Fish pain revisited
While most people would agree that oysters and mussels do not feel pain, the same cannot be said for fish.
In a recent talk in the Biosecurity New Zealand Science Seminar Series, entitled "Underwater, no one can hear you scream ... although interestingly enough ...", Biosecurity New Zealand's Dr Colin Johnston summarised current thinking on, and attitudes to, pain and distress in fish.
Dr Colin Johnston
Colin has a background in aquaculture, and aquatic animal and fish disease. His talk focused on the evidence for and against fish feeling pain, and mechanisms by which it is proposed that fish could be aware of pain. While there will always be a range of strongly expressed beliefs, there is recent evidence to support a theory that fish are aware of, what we would consider to be, painful experiences. Currently, the focus for debate rests more upon their 'mental representations' of those experiences. In terms of animal welfare, the latter might not be so important. Of this, Colin said, "I think it is fair to say that the experience does not have to be identical to that in humans to still be significant to the animal."
In any case, everyone is agreed that chronic adverse stimuli cause debilitating stress responses in fish. Aquatic industries and regulatory authorities throughout the world are taking the issue seriously and turning their attention to the development of guidelines and rules to protect fish welfare in aquaculture. Recreational and commercial fishing are also attracting increasing attention.
- Dr Colin Johnston, Senior Adviser, Risk Analysis Group, Pre-clearance Directorate, Biosecurity New Zealand, phone 04 894 0689, colin.johnston@maf.govt.nz
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Page last updated: 30 April 2008