Animal category: Fish

Scientific review analyzing how narrative discourse and the presentation of arguments contribute to the social construction of representations of farm animal welfare in the scientific community. The authors examine the scientific literature and analyse it according to 5 narrative points of view. Depending on the point of view, the reasons given for why farmed animals should lead decent lives are different.

Scientific article examining the interest in using the 3Rs rule (replacement, reduction, refinement) applied in animal experimentation, to aid decision-making on the welfare of zoo and aquarium animals, in a context where practitioners in these sectors and society are asking for greater consideration to be given to animal welfare.

Scholarly article that analyzes the positive role of international cooperation, facilitated by the Council of Europe, in the adoption of European legislation on farm-animal welfare. It sets out the limitations of these international legal tools in providing adequate regulation of market forces and proposes legal remedies to improve the treatement and welfare of animals where past international efforts have failed.

This summary of the quality assessment highlights the positive role that European regulations have played in advancing animal welfare, particularly for species covered by specific directives. But problems persist, differences in implementation are noted between member countries, and enforcement is insufficient. The review concludes that the current rules do not sufficiently take into account society's growing expectations, ethical concerns, scientific and technological developments and future sustainability challenges.

Response to a question on the Commission's plans to ensure that the new animal transport provisions (under the Farm to Fork strategy) incorporate the latest scientific data on the transport of live fish.

Scientific review proposing ways to select the appropriate fish stocking density for each farm and monitor its potential effects. They include a robust welfare assessment based on operational indicators and good management practices.

Opinion containing, in particular, proposals on animal welfare: farming systems to be displayed on environmental labels; public aid and subsidies to be progressively adjusted in favour of production methods that support the environment, nutritional quality and animal welfare; implementation at European level of measures to protect agricultural and food products from competition from imported products that do not comply with European standards to be defended.

Scientific paper evaluating the effects of feeding levels on conventionally-used welfare indicators for tilapia (presence/absence of skin lesions, body condition, weight gain, mortality rate) using an epidemiological approach. It shows that feeding levels directly affect welfare indicators and production.

Scientific review of the scientific evidence on fish sentience and its implications for the commercial farming of fish. It concludes that there is a need to review the welfare regulations for farmed fish.

Scientific paper proving that stingrays and cichlids are capable of learning to add and subtract, confirming that, at the least, the common ancestor of vertebrates could carry out these two operations.