This book investigates how fish experience their lives, their amazing senses and abilities, and how human actions impact their quality of life. The authors examine the concept of fish welfare and the scientific knowledge behind the inclusion of fish within the moral circle, and how this knowledge can change the way we treat fish in the future. In many countries fish are already protected by animal welfare legislation in the same way as mammals, but in practice there is still a major gap between how we ethically view these groups and how we actually treat them. The poor treatment of fish represents a massive animal welfare problem in aquaculture and fisheries, both in terms of the number of animals affected and the severity of the welfare issues. Thanks to its interdisciplinary scope, this thought-provoking book appeals to professionals, academics and students in the fields of animal welfare, cognition and physiology, as well as fisheries and aquaculture management.

Fish have the same stress response and powers of nociception as mammals. Their behavioural responses to a variety of situations suggest a considerable ability for higher level neural processing – a level of consciousness equivalent perhaps to that attributed to mammals. Each chapter of this book has been written by specialists in their field. The subject matter is wide ranging and covers in detail concepts of animal welfare in addition to more specific aspects of fish welfare. Philosophical concepts of welfare are discussed along with more practical areas of fish welfare encompassing all husbandry and management activities that have a potential to affect the welfare of the fish in our care. This book is an essential purchase for fish veterinarians, fish farmers, fish biologists and those involved in the aquaculture industry and its regulation.

The welfare of fish in aquaculture is of increasing public concern in Europe and thus of growing importance for fish farmers. Although the topic can be regarded as controversial, due in particular to the lack of available knowledge, there is nevertheless an urgent need for fish farmers, authorities and scientists to develop criteria, approaches and practices to monitor and safeguard the welfare of cultured fish. The objective of this document is to provide the opinion of EIFAAC Member institutions– as the reference body in the field of inland fisheries and aquaculture – on how, given the current state of scientific knowledge, fish welfare issues can be integrated into best practice guidelines for fish culture. This report deals with the welfare of farmed finfish and neither addresses capture fisheries, be they commercial or recreational, nor welfare issues related to the culture of crustaceans and molluscs. The report focuses on the welfare issues of on-growing fish while giving little to no attention to larvae/fry and broodstock. Likewise, the report focuses primarily on the culture conditions for farming of fish and gives little attention to welfare aspects related to transport and slaughter. Finally, emphasis is given to the culture of freshwater fish, but marine species are included where appropriate. It is understood that the principal welfare issues are comparable for freshwater and marine fish culture.

While there has been increasing interest in recent years in the welfare of farm animals, fish are frequently thought to be different. In many people's perception, fish, with their lack of facial expressions or recognisable communication, are not seen to count when it comes to welfare. Angling is a major sport, and fishing a big industry. Millions of fish are caught on barbed hooks, or left to die by suffocation on the decks of fishing boats. Here, biologist Victoria Braithwaite explores the question of fish pain and fish suffering, explaining what we now understand about fish behaviour, and examining the related ethical questions about how we should treat these animals. She asks why the question of pain in fish has not been raised earlier, indicating our prejudices and assumptions; and argues that the latest and growing scientific evidence would suggest that we should widen to fish the protection currently given to birds and mammals.

Fishes are by far the most species-rich vertebrate taxon, and it is also the vertebrate group with the most strikingly diverse repertoire of behaviours and behavioural adaptations. As such, they provide us with many opportunities to explore the fascinating complexities of animal behaviour. Central questions addressed in this book include: How do se

Fundamentals of Ornamental Fish Health is a complete guide to managing the health and well-being of ornamental aquatic animals. Grounded in the foundations of fish medical care, the book summarizes nonlethal aquatic diagnostics and medicine, putting the information within a clinical context. Providing a comprehensive overview of the subject, Fundamentals of Ornamental Fish Health equips aquatic animal health professionals with all the information needed to competently and effectively treat these patients, from transporting and examining fish to diagnostic techniques and the identification and treatment of specific diseases and syndromes.

Mucosal Health in Aquaculture is an essential reference on mucosal health for the diverse aquaculture community. Rich in explanatory figures and schematics, the book includes important concepts such as structural and cellular composition of mucosal surfaces in fish and shellfish, known functional roles of molecular and cellular actors during pathogen invasion, impacts of nutrition on the mucosal barriers, impacts of chemical treatments on mucosal surfaces, mucosal vaccines and vaccination strategies, and more. The health of cultured aquaculture species is critical in establishing the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry worldwide, and mucosal health is of particular interest to those working in aquaculture because mucosal surfaces (skin, gill, intestine, reproductive tissues) constitute the first line of defense against pathogen invasion. Mucosal Health in Aquaculture captures the latest research on mucosal barriers in aquaculture species and their impacts on nutrition and immunity to ensure sustainable aquaculture development. Includes research case studies to exhibit the importance of various integrated approaches to mucosal health Examines the latest scientific methods and technologies to maximize efficiencies for healthy fish production for farming Brings together the latest knowledge and research on mucosal barriers and mechanisms from world-wide experts in mucosal health Utilizes detailed diagrams and figures to enhance comprehension

The study of animal cognition has been largely confined to birds and mammals; a historical bias which has led to the belief that learning plays little or no part in the development of behaviour in fishes and reptiles. Research in recent decades has begun to redress this misconception and it is now recognised that fishes exhibit a rich array of sophisticated behaviour with impressive learning capabilities entirely comparable with those of mammals and other terrestrial animals. In this fascinating book an international team of experts have been brought together to explore all major areas of fish learning, including: foraging skills Predator recognition Social organisation and learning Welfare and pain Fish Cognition and Behavior is an important contribution to all fish biologists and ethologists and contains much information of commercial importance for fisheries managers and aquaculture personnel. Libraries in universities and research establishments will find it an important addition to their shelves.

Animal welfare has long been recognised as central to the role of the veterinary professional, but this is increasingly aligned with the welfare of humans and the broader environment in which we co-exist. This is the first book dedicated to the role of the veterinarian in One Welfare, a concept that recognises the interconnections between animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the environment. The book demonstrates, through a wide range of international case studies, why professional ethics and the use of good evidence is integral to this role. Contributors bring a rich variety of writings, each with their own perception of the role of the veterinarian in improving animal welfare and human wellbeing. One Welfare in Practice: The Role of the Veterinarian emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and solutions: it is essential that veterinary practitioners recognise when other professionals or disciplines need to be consulted to benefit both animals and humans. With its multiple, fascinating approaches to One Welfare, this book will inform and inspire the veterinarian to find areas where collaborative action reaps the greatest rewards. This unique book shows how veterinarians can and are contributing to improving animal and human welfare, offering practical advice as to how the profession can further engage in One Welfare in a range of settings.

The deluxe, comprehensive guide to the native species of Mississippi Download Plain Text version Where was the largest bass caught in Mississippi? What streams are sometimes home to the gulf sturgeon? How can an angler tell a grass pickerel from a walleye? In Inland Fishes of Mississippi, Stephen T. Ross answers these questions and many more. Mississippi waters are some of the richest inland fish habitats in the United States. In fact, only four states have more native fish than Mississippi's 204. Inland Fishes of Mississippi is for anglers and nature lovers who want to learn more about this thriving diversity. Introductory chapters present the history of the study of fish in Mississippi, the distribution patterns of species, important conservation issues, and valuable information on identifying fish by examining body shape and structure. Following these are illustrated keys to all the families of fish known to inhabit inland waters. Each key is a detailed guide to identifying the specific species within a family of fish. Keys include: color photographs of freshly collected examples meanings of scientific names for fish descriptions of color and physical changes maximum sizes of fish, including records for game fish precise maps of distribution vital information on habitat requirements, feeding, and behavior tips on where to catch a species status of conservation efforts For both the casual angler and the ichthyologist, Inland Fishes of Mississippi will prove a constant resource and an irreplaceable asset for identifying, observing, and catching the state's various species. Stephen T. Ross is professor of biological sciences and Curator of Fishes at the University of Southern Mississippi. The editor for ecology and ethology of Copeia, he has also published articles in numerous journals such as American Naturalist, Environmental Biology of Fishes, and Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.