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

长期以来，人们一直认识到，相对于陆生动物在屠宰时的福利，鱼类在屠宰时的福利相对较差，部分原因是与开发在水环境中安全使用的有效的鱼类电子昏迷系统有关的技术困难。尽管长期以来一直被忽视，但屠宰鱼的福利也受到了消费者的极大关注，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，以应对养活迅速增长的人口的挑战，意味着迫切需要改善屠宰鱼类的福利。哺乳动物和鸟类有明确的神经生理参数，可以用来确认晕厥是否有效。然而，对于表明鱼类有效昏迷的神经生理学参数，几乎没有达成一致意见。该项目将调查研究人员目前用来评估其他物种有效眩晕的方法，并确定这些标准是否可以应用于一系列鱼类物种。此外，如果有必要，还将研究新的技术，以基于对大脑活动的详细分析，进一步了解养殖鱼类的眩晕效果。实验室的神经生理学评估将被用来识别行为迹象，这些迹象可以主观地识别鱼是否被击晕。因此，该提案的第一部分将侧重于确定可用来定义鱼的有效眩晕以减少兴奋、疼痛或痛苦的神经生理学方法。开发的方法将用于评估商业使用的电子昏迷系统产生人道昏迷的有效性。

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.