With the rise of the aquaculture industry during recent years and its likely continuing expansion for very many years, the subject of fish welfare has come to the fore, although the subject is in its infancy.
This important new book represents a landmark in the subject area, bringing together a great wealth of relevant information together in the covers of one book for the first time. "Fish Welfare" is broadly divided into two sections. The first section deals with general aspects of fish welfare including chapters covering how fish suffer pain and fear, fishes' responses to stress and the measurement of such stress responses, and a summary of the current legislation relevant to fish welfare. The second section of the book covers welfare issues relating specifically to aquaculture and includes major topics such as stocking densities, water quality, physical trauma, diseases, feeding, pre-slaughter handling and slaughter, and fish transport.
Carefully edited by well-known fish veterinarian, Edward Branson, "Fish Welfare" brings together contributions from many of the most highly respected scientists currently working in the area. "Fish Welfare" is an essential purchase for fish farm managers, all fish veterinarians and those involved in the aquaculture industry and its regulation.
IntroductionE J Branson & P J Southgate Part 1: General Fish Welfare Chapter 1 What is animal welfare?A B Lawrence Chapter 2 Welfare and fishF A Huntingford & S Kadri Chapter 3 The stress response in fish - mechanisms, effects and measurement T G Pottinger Chapter 4 Pain and fear in fishP J Ashley & L U Sneddon Chapter 5 Can fish suffer?V A Braithwaite & P Boulcott Chapter 6 Welfare legislation applying to farmed fish in UKA Voas Part 2: Aquaculture and fish welfare Chapter 7 Fish farmer's perspective of welfareN Read Chapter 8 Stocking densityJ F Turnbull, B P North, T Ellis, C E Adams, J Bron, C MacIntyre & F A Huntingford Chapter 9 Fin erosion in farmed fishT Ellis, B Oidtmann, S St-Hilaire, J F Turnbull, B P North, C M MacIntyre, J Nikolaidis, S C Kestin, T Knowles & I Hoyle Chapter 10 The influences of water quality on the welfare of farmed rainbow trout: a review.C M MacIntyre, T Ellis, B P North & J F Turnbull Chapter 11 Welfare of fish during transportP J Southgate Chapter 12 Disease control, vaccination and medicine availability related to welfareT Wall Chapter 13 DeformitiesT Turnbull & E J Branson Chapter 14 Welfare of Fish at HarvestD H F Robb Chapter 15 The use of stakeholders focus groups to identify indicators for the on-farm assessment of trout welfareB P North, T Ellis, J Bron, T G Knowles & J F Turnbull Part 3: Ornamental fish and welfare Chapter 16 The welfare of ornamental fishC Walster
Edward Branson MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon, RCVS Specialist in Fish Health and Production, Monmouthshire, UK Edward Branson died suddenly before this book was finished and it is a great sadness to his friends and colleagues that he did not see the completion of a project that was so dear to his heart. Edward was a very active member of the Fish Veterinary Society and it was always his wish that the Society should address all aspects of fish welfare. It was Edward's ambition that the Society hold a wide-ranging workshop on current issues of Fish Welfare and, during his term of office as President, he saw this wish fulfilled. This book is a direct result of that workshop.
Certainly a vital book for anyone involved with aquaculture practically anywhere in the world. (Ausmarine, April 2009) "Newcomers to the field will find the book a useful introductory compendium. It provides concise coverage of topics that are central to the field that is becoming increasingly important." (Aquaculture International, August 2008) "Fish Welfare is a ground-breaking science book that addresses key questions aEURO It cuts through the myths of and anecdotal evidence and presents us with scientific facts." (Aquatic Trader PBW News Magazine)