Aquatic animal welfare – a review of guidance documents and legislation
The aquaculture, commercial and recreational fisheries sectors along with the FRDC have recognised the need to continue the work of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) Aquatic Animal Working Group (AAWG) (2005-2013). In September 2018, the FRDC funded a workshop to review the activities of the AAWS-AAWG and for the industry peak bodies to prioritize knowledge gaps for future R&D. One of the recommendations from the workshop funded by FRDC 2017-221 was to conduct a stocktake of the current industry processes and legislation that relate to aquatic animal welfare.
The initial stocktake was completed in 2006 by Dr Paul Hardy-Smith and colleagues. The aquatic animal welfare landscape has significantly changed since 2006. States and Territories are developing animal welfare legislation and guidelines that either specifically addresses aquatic animal welfare considerations and/or includes aquatic animals (e.g. fish, crustaceans) under the definition of “animal” in the legislation. This changing landscape has implications for “in-field” practices (e.g. methods used to kill aquatic animals) and other practices (e.g. transportation of live aquatic animals).
It is critically important that the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishing sectors understand the implications of this changing landscape. These sectors need to ensure their own guidelines or codes of conduct are addressing the regional requirements and if they are not, then it is important that they are assisted in addressing changes to protect themselves. It is important that aquatic animal welfare requirements in no way place human welfare at risk. There is a need to promote the changes to industry practice that have positive outcomes for aquatic animal welfare and to ensure industry practices are keeping within the welfare requirements of that State or Territory.
Our project will comprehensively document and analyse the legislative framework as it applies to aquatic animal welfare in each State and Territory. The project will identify key areas of concern for commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational sectors which will be used to assist in developing priority case studies.
Report
Aquatic animals, like all animals, play an important role in maintaining a healthy environment. Many aquatic animals are valuable sources of nutrition for humans and other animals and contribute significantly to Australia’s primary industry in both domestic and international trade. Other aquatic animals have cultural and economic importance to our tourism and recreational industries. For aquatic animals, as with other animals, better health through improved welfare can increase productivity and can have beneficial impacts on sustainability.
The last review of aquatic animal welfare arrangements in Australia was conducted in 2006. Community understanding of animal welfare, including aquatic animal welfare, has increased since then. Having a sound understanding of animal welfare laws and any changes that may be happening to those laws is important to industries that work with aquatic animals.
Project products
Travel Bursary to attend the AquaVet program at Cornell University, in Massachusetts, USA
up-skilling as an aquatic veterinarian as well as exposure to the most recent research and best practice in aquaculture and fisheries in North America. This knowledge and experience gained would be directly reflected back onto projects that Panaquatic participates in as well as our aquaculture clients present and future.
Final report
AQUAVET is a demanding intensive 4 week aquatic veterinary medicine course aimed to equip members of the veterinary profession with the skills and knowledge required to work in the aquatic field. The biomedical skills used so successfully by veterinarians to deal with disease and increase productivity in the terrestrial world can be applied to aquaculture too, but this is only possible by fostering knowledge and skills through programs such as AQUAVET. I attended this course in May/June this year to further my own knowledge and skills in aquatic medicine for the benefit of Panaquatic and Australian aquaculture.
NCCP: Issues Paper - Understanding the potential changes to interactions of parasites and bacteria between carp and native freshwater fish if cyprinid herpes virus 3 ("carp virus") is released in Australia
Australian Animal Welfare Strategy: the development of specific operator (boat) level Welfare Codes of Practice in the commercial capture fishing sector
The project takes the outputs from an initial project (the development of draft Animal Welfare Codes of Practice for the Australina Commercial capture Fishing Sectors which have nw been endorsed at the industry association level) tothe operator (boat) level. This is where there can be most impact on fish welfare.
This project will work with six opertors in three states using five of the capture mehtods - purse seining, beach seining, mesh netting, trawling and line fishing - to develop specific codes for the individual operator (boat) to show practical applicability and sustainability of fish welfare at this level.
Final report
People Development Program: 2009 FRDC International travel bursary - Paul Hardy-Smith
Effective and practical on farm biosecurity is critical to the ongoing sustainability and profitability of aquaculture industries. Practical biosecurity is also critical for wild catch fishers harvesting aquatic species such as abalone.
There is a real need for Australia's aquatic animal veterinary expertise to maintain an up to date understanding of aquaculture biosecurity. Dr Hardy-Smith works full time with aquatic animal in Australia and provides, on a daily basis, specific biosecurity advice to clients farming or harvesting many different aquatic species in many states and the NT.
He also provides specific farm level biosecurity advice to governments.
This conference specifically addresses the issues of practical, on farm biosecurity, including the economic impact of disease and biosecurity programs . Other critical topics include:
• Components of ideal biosecurity plans and programs
• International, regional and national strategies
• Identifying and prioritizing hazardous diseases and evaluating risks
• Disease epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring
• Control and eradication contingency plans and programs
• Disease diagnostics, medical and farm record keeping
• Implementing, auditing and certifying biosecurity programs
Having Dr Hardy-Smith attend this conference addresses the needs outlined above.
There is also a need for both aquaculture farmers and wild catch fishers to keep abreast of the latest technology in the farming and capturing of aquatic species. The biosecurity conference is being held in conjunction with Aqua Nor 2009, an internationally important aquaculture industry trade show which showcases the latest in technology in fish farming. Besides such equipment as fish pumps, other technology to be presented at Aqua Nor 2009 will centre on vaccination of aquatic animals, feeding and nutrition of aquatic animals and housing/controlling of aquatic animals.
If Dr Hardy-Smith does attend the biosecurity conference, it would seem reasonable and highly beneficial for him also to attend Aqua Nor.