Animal Welfare Considerations for Fish Farms in BC Myron Roth Industry Specialist, Aquaculture and Seafood Salmon Containment Workshop Chamcook, New Brunswick, Canada April 29-30, 2014 1
BC Aquaculture Production - 2012 Oysters, 7.4 Scallops & Mussels, 0.8 Other, 0.9 Oysters, 17.2 Clams, 9.2 Scallops & Mussels, 5.1 Other, 9.2 Clams, 1.4 Pacific Salmon, 4.8 Pacific Salmon, 46.9 Atlantic Salmon, 68.9 Atlantic Salmon, 386 Harvest ('000 mt) Wholesale Value ($M) Farmed Salmon is BC s #1 Agricultural Export!
Finfish Species Cultured BC 1. Atlantic salmon (82%) 2. Chinook, Coho (10%) 3. Trout 4. Sablefish 5. Sturgeon (~ 1-2 %) 6. Tilapia (% Wholesale Value All Aqua)
Aquaculture in BC Aquaculture Facilities BC 4
Scope of Systems Decreasing - Containment - Increasing Flexible Flexible Solid Solid Pump Pump Total Open Wall Wall Wall Wall Ashore Ashore Recirc Recirc Net without with without with without with Aqua Aqua Pen Water Water Water Water Water Water System System Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment (RAS) (TRAS) OCEAN-BASED LAND-BASED
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Closed-Containment Aquaculture Facilities Prince George
Why Fish Welfare? 1. Ethical Obligation 2. Link between Animal Welfare and Animal Health 3. Link between Animal Health and Productivity 4. Link between Productivity and Economic Benefits
Sled Dog Task Force The Task Force would like to see the province of British Columbia become a world leader in animal welfare
World Organization of Animal Health (OIE)-Terrestrial Animal Health Code Article 7.1.1. Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and appropriate veterinary treatment, shelter, management and nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter or killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment.
World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Code Article 7.1.2. The basic requirements for the welfare of farmed fish include handling methods appropriate to the biological characteristics of the fish and a suitable environment to fulfill their needs. There are many species of fish in farming systems and these have different biological characteristics. It is not practicable to develop specific recommendations for each of these species. These OIE recommendations therefore address the welfare of farmed fish at a general level.
Federal Legislation 1. Criminal Code of Canada Prohibits anyone from willfully causing animal to suffer from neglect, pain or injury, whether or not that person is the animal s owner or guardian 2. Health of Animals Act (& Regulations): Enforcement for human transportation requirements for all animals and all modes of transport 3. Meat Inspection Act (& Regulations): Requirements for humane handling and slaughter of food animals in federally registered slaughter establishments 4. Fisheries Act (Pacific Aquaculture Regulations) Conditions of license: fish health management plan; vet-client-patient relationship; veterinary code of ethics includes provisions for welfare
Provincial Legislation 1. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Protects ALL animals in captivity from distress and outlines minimum provisions that must be provided to the animal 2. Vetinarians Act Licensing standards for animal health professionals, empowers Council of the College to oversee the affairs of the profession, who are responsible for establishing by-laws and practice standards (i.e. code of ethics) 3. Animal Disease Control Act Authority to limit the spread of contagious disease in animals including aquatic animals 4. Wildlife Act (Controlled Alien Species Regulation) Controls the possession, breeding and shipping and release of alien animals (i.e. not native to BC). Commercial zoos must meet specific animal care standards as requirement of permit. Controlled alien species are not considered wildlife.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1. The Act defines cruelty to animals negatively through the absence of distress, thereby prohibiting actions of a person that would cause distress to an animal. Animal welfare is therefore the absence of stress. 2. Animal Distress is defined as; a) Deprived of adequate food, water, shelter, ventilation, light, space, exercise, care or veterinary treatment; a) Kept in conditions that are unsanitary; b) Not protected from excessive heat or cold b) Injured, sick, in pain or suffering, or; c) Abused or neglected
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1. Offences under the Act my by punished by Fines not exceeding $75,000 Up to 2 years in Prison, or both Prohibitions from owning or having custody or control of animal for a period of time as specified by a judge.
Non-Voluntary Standards 1. Canadian Council On Animal Care - Standards for Research Animals Required for funding, including aquatic animals, applies to research animals only
Voluntary Standards Industry Codes of Practice: 1. World Wildlife Fund Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue/Aquaculture Stewardship Council 2. Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices 3. Canadian General Standards Board Organic Aquaculture Standards
ASC Salmon Standard PRINCIPLE 5: MANAGE DISEASE AND PARASITES IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER Principle 5 aims to address negative impacts of salmon farming associated with disease, parasites and therapeutic chemical inputs. The SAD recognizes the role of proper fish handling and minimized levels of fish stress as an important element in good husbandry and in reducing levels of disease on farms, mortalities and therapeutic treatments. In addition to addressing environmental risks, compliance with requirements under Principle 5 helps ensure farmed fish health and welfare
ASC Salmon Standard PRINCIPLE 5: MANAGE DISEASE AND PARASITES IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER 5.1.1: Evidence of a fish health management plan for the identification and monitoring of fish diseases and parasites 5.1.2: Site visits by a designated veterinarian at least four times a year, and by a fish health manager at least once a month 5.4.3: Evidence of compliance with the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code
GAA BAP Salmon Chapter 9: Animal Health and Welfare: Health and Welfare Producers shall demonstrate that all operations on farms that involve fish are conducted with animal welfare in mind. Employees shall be trained to provide appropriate levels of husbandry and care. 9.7: The applicant shall exercise care in handling fish and manage them within specified limits for crowding and time out of water, and shall limit other sources of outside disturbances. 9.9: The applicant shall apply stocking density criteria based on local conditions, which shall normally be at or below an average 25 kg/m 3 but may rise higher than this for 5% of the production cycle if the fish show other good welfare indicators and water quality is considered good.
GAA BAP Salmon Chapter 10: Animal Health and Welfare: Biosecurity and Disease Management Farms shall operate with the aim of preventing infectious disease outbreaks, but when diseases or parasites infect farmed fish, diagnosis and treatment shall be carried out promptly and judiciously under the supervision of a fish health professional in a manner that minimizes impacts on the environment. 10.1: The applicant shall designate an accredited fish health professional to oversee the Fish Health Management Plan, direct the diagnosis and treatment of fish diseases and coordinate activities with neighboring farms under an Area Management Agreement, where such an agreement is in place (see Standard 2). The applicant shall notify the certifying body if the fish health professional changes 10.14: The applicant shall accept that if the auditor has concerns about any aspects of how the FHMP is written or implemented, a second opinion can be sought from an independent fish health professional.
GAA BAP Salmon British Columbia: Certified Farms 1. Marine Harvest Canada Inc: 22 Farms (3 Star) 2. Mainstream (Cermaq) Canada: 11 Farms (2,3 star) 3. Grieg Seafoods: 11 Farms (2,3 star)
CGSB-Organic Aquaculture Standards 6.5: Health and Welfare 6.5.1: Aquaculture facilities shall be designed, operated and managed in a manner that seeks to maximize the welfare and minimize stress on aquaculture animals, and minimizes the spread of disease within the facility, and to all adjoining ecosystems and native fish species. 6.9 : Specific Requirements for Aquatic Invertebrate Species 6.9.6: Health and Welfare 6.9.6.1: Where applicable, requirements in paragraph 6.5 apply.
CGSB-Organic Aquaculture Standards 6.5.2 Management shall be based on the five following domains of welfare: a) Aquaculture animals shall have ready access to an appropriate diet in sufficient quantities and with a composition that maintains full health and vigor. b) Aquaculture animals are in close contact with their environment. Water quality is of central importance to their welfare. Water quality parameters shall be appropriate to meet physiological and ethological needs. c) Disease shall be prevented or rapidly diagnosed and treated d) Aquaculture animals shall have sufficient space, proper facilities and, where appropriate, the company of the animal s own kind. e) Conditions that produce unacceptable levels of stress caused by anxiety, fear, distress, boredom, sickness, pain, hunger and so on shall be minimized.
CGSB-Organic Aquaculture Standards 6.6 Cultivation Conditions: 6.6.3: Recirculation systems are permitted if the systems supports the health, growth, and well being of the species. 6.6.4: Prolonged light periods are permitted up to the day length naturally encountered by the species being reared. 6.6.6: Maximum Stocking Densities (Atlantic Salmon) FW: flow through: 20 kg/m 3 ; Recirc: 60 kg/m 3 SW: net pens-10 kg/m 3 ; flow through-40 kg/m 3 ; Recirc-40 kg/m 3
Density Standards Salmon Husbandry 1. WWF ASC: N/A 2. GAA BAP: 25 kg/m 3 3. CGSB Organic Aquaculture Standard: 10 kg/m 3 (net pens) 60 (recirc) kg/m 3
Other Animal Welfare Activities 1. Education and Extension National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council (advisory) National Farm Animal Care Council (Codes of Practice) National/Provincial Producer Associations BC Farm Animal Care Council BC Veterinary Medical Association 2. Research Universities/Government Agencies 3. Emergency Response BC Emergency Program Act BCFACC
International Codes Federal Legislation Provincial Legislation Voluntary Codes of Practice Education/Extension/Research
Acknowledgements Special thanks to.. Terri Giacomazzi, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporate Governance, Policy and Legislation Branch
Thank You!