16AGRITECHCAT5: The neurophysiological and behavioural evaluation of a novel humane electric stunning system for fish

长期以来，人们已经认识到，与屠宰时的陆地动物的福利相比，屠宰时的鱼的福利相对较差，部分原因是与开发用于水生环境中安全使用的鱼的有效电致晕系统相关的技术困难。虽然长期被忽视，但屠宰鱼的福利也受到消费者的极大关注，他们要求在屠宰过程中获得更好的福利。这一事实，再加上水产养殖业的大规模扩张，以满足快速增长的人口喂养的挑战，意味着改善屠宰鱼类的福利是迫切需要的。在哺乳动物和鸟类中有明确的神经生理学参数可以用来确认击昏是否有效。然而，很少有共识的神经生理参数，表明一个有效的击昏鱼。该项目将调查研究人员目前使用的方法，以评估其他物种的有效击昏，并确定这些标准是否可以适用于一系列鱼类物种。此外，如有必要，还将研究新技术，以进一步了解基于大脑活动详细分析的养殖鱼类的惊人效果。实验室的神经生理学评估将用于识别行为迹象，这些迹象可以主观地识别鱼是否被击昏。因此，本提案的第一部分将侧重于确定神经生理学方法，这些方法可用于定义鱼类中有效的昏迷，以减少兴奋，疼痛或痛苦。开发的方法将用于评估商业使用的电击昏系统产生人道击昏的有效性。

It has long been recognised that the welfare of fish at slaughter is comparatively poor in relation to the welfare of land animals at slaughter, due in part to technical difficulties associated with developing effective electrical stunning systems for fish that are safe for use in an aquatic environment. Although long neglected, the welfare of fish of slaughter is also receiving significant attention from consumers who are demanding better welfare during the slaughter process. This fact, coupled with the massive expansion of aquaculture to meet the challenges of feeding a rapidly expanding population means that improvements in the welfare of fish at slaughter are urgently required. There are well-defined neurophysiological parameters in mammals and birds that can be used to confirm whether stunning has been effective. However there is little consensus on neurophysiological parameters that indicate an effective stun in fish. This project will investigate the methodologies currently used by researchers to evaluate effective stunning in other species and determine whether these criteria can be applied to a range of fish species. In addition, if necessary, new techniques will be investigated to further our understanding of stunning effectiveness in farmed fish based on detailed analysis of brain activity. The neurophysiological assessment in the laboratory will be used to identify behavioural signs that can subjectively identify whether fish are stunned or not. Therefore the first part of this proposal will focus on the determination of neurophysiological methodologies that can be used to define an effective stun in fish to reduce excitement, pain or suffering. The methodology developed will be used to assess the effectiveness of commercially used electrical stunning systems to produce a humane stun.