Senior researcher Hans van de Vis from the Wageningen Livestock Research Institute in the Netherlands delivered a speech on behalf of the foreign experts and scholars attending the conference. He pointed out that more and more people around the world are focusing on the welfare of aquatic animals and conducting research, and that we need more exchange and cooperation to promote the development of science, technology, and industry.
Expert report session
The first report
Host: Professor Zhu Songming from Zhejiang University
Report on Guests and Content：
Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, Tore Kristiansen, presented a report titled 'The Wonderful World of Fish,' showcasing a diverse array of aquatic species, including the largest and smallest fish on Earth, as well as those with the longest and shortest lifespans. The report also provided an in-depth introduction to fish senses and intelligence, and highlighted the survival threats fish face due to environmental degradation. Additionally, it expressed the hope that the development of aquatic animal welfare could provide fish with a better living environment.
Researcher Zhu Jian, the chief scientist of the National Major Freshwater Fish Industry Technology System, presented a report titled 'Innovation in Green and Healthy Aquaculture Technology to Enhance Fish Welfare.' The report analyzed the relationship between the breeds and farming modes of freshwater fish in China and animal welfare, as well as the welfare issues arising from traditional aquaculture practices. Green development should pay more attention to fish welfare. It is hoped that through technological innovation, the 'integrated breeding, farming, and promotion' model can be advanced. By applying ecological regulation technologies, pond farming models can be improved, water environments restored, aquatic biodiversity enhanced, and intelligent management implemented, effectively achieving technological breakthroughs to promote aquatic animal welfare.
Professor Sonia Rey Planellas from the University of Stirling, UK, gave a presentation titled 'How Behavioral Studies Can Improve Fish Welfare.' Aquatic animal behavioral studies play a crucial role in improving the welfare of aquaculture animals. This includes scientifically planning aquaculture: managing the behavior of the species being farmed; environmental management in farming systems; feeding strategies and social behavior; the friendliness and social hierarchy of fish groups; indicators of fish pain, stress, and welfare; the effects of lighting on fish behavior, and more. At the same time, Professor Planellas also presented some methods and cutting-edge research in fish behavior based on computer vision, as well as the relationship between fish welfare and fish health.
Hans van de Vis, a senior researcher at Wageningen Livestock Research in the Netherlands, presented a report titled 'Structured Approaches for Assessing Live Transport, Stunning, and Slaughter of Farmed Fish.' Ensuring animal welfare primarily involves identifying potential welfare hazards for fish, ranking them according to their severity, and determining which welfare hazards should be prioritized for mitigation. This allows farm staff to focus on the main risks, which are also the primary focus of research. Among the welfare risks for fish, transport and slaughter are the most significant and worthy of study. In addition to standard operating procedures for stunning and slaughter, operational processes should also be standardized and supervised.
The second report
Host: Professor Li Xian of Ocean University of China
Report speakers and content:
Li Dapeng, Vice President of Huazhong Agricultural University, gave a report titled 'The Effects of Rearing Space and Stocking Density on Fish Welfare.' Vice President Li introduced various pond farming models using zebrafish as an example, discussing the biological and ecological effects on fish, and proposed the concept of the ecological effects of space. He explained that under the same rearing space, fish welfare is affected by stocking density, while under the same stocking density, fish welfare is influenced by the size of the space. Through data analysis on different species such as grass carp, European bass, and Atlantic salmon in various spatial rearing conditions, the study concluded that reasonable space allocation can lead to better farming outcomes.
Senior researcher Michael Brerren from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research gave a report titled 'Assessing Fish Welfare in Norwegian Commercial Fisheries.' Research on fish welfare in the fishing industry can contribute to the quality and sustainability of fish products. Proper fishing practices, which benefit both fish capture and related handling, should minimize physical damage and stress (burden) to the fish until they are either slaughtered or released. Researcher Michael Brerren provided a detailed introduction to the welfare of commercial purse seine fishing vessels in the Atlantic, as well as related investigations and experimental results on fishing and slaughtering.
Professor Huang Liuyi from Ocean University of China gave a report titled 'Current Status of China's Fishing Industry and Progress in Research on Welfare of Captured Fish.' The development of China's fishing industry has a long history. According to statistics, in 2022, China's marine fishing resources declined significantly. The transformation and upgrading of the fishing industry is essential, and ecological fisheries are the only way forward. However, there are many areas needing improvement, including fishing gear and methods, fishery infrastructure projects, and fish behavior research. Good welfare for captured fish not only ensures food supply and sustainable resource development but also guarantees safety on vessels and social stability. Fish welfare in the fishing industry is an inevitable direction for future development, and the welfare of fish in the fishing industry is indeed the inevitable future trend.
Professor Lynne Sneddon from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, gave a presentation titled 'Welfare of Decapod Crustaceans: Evidence of Pain.' Professor Sneddon proposed specific indicators for studying pain in decapod crustaceans. Through experimental data on different species such as crabs and lobsters, she offered suggestions for improving the welfare of decapod crustaceans, including considering the impact of stocking density, maintaining good water quality, providing a suitable rearing environment, and reducing environmental causes of pain for the animals. Related research and recommendations have begun to gain attention, and promoting welfare work for aquatic animals can play an important role in this field.
Mariana Carneiro, a researcher at the Portuguese Center for Marine and Environmental Research, presented a report titled 'The Impact of Environmental Enrichment on the Welfare of Aquatic Animals.' Environmental enrichment is a fundamental principle of animal husbandry, aimed at providing stimuli of interest to captive animals to help them achieve the best psychological and physiological state, thereby improving husbandry quality. Environmental enrichment includes sensory, nutritional, social, occupational, and physical aspects. Depending on the species, growth stage, and health condition, environmental enrichment enhances fish health and promotes the healthy development of aquaculture.
Thematic Forum
First Theme Forum: How to Improve Aquatic Animal Welfare Through Technological Innovation
Host: Professor Li Xian of Ocean University of China
Interactive Guests (from left to right): Zhao Dandan, Assistant General Manager and Director of the R&D Department of Guangzhou Chengyi Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Pascal Blaizer, Chief Engineer of Recirculating Aquaculture at Tianjin Zize Technology Co., Ltd.; Guan Baifeng, Director of Fisheries and Separation Technology Industry for Asia at Germany ADE Group; Zhu Jian, Chief Scientist of the National Major Freshwater Fish Industry Technology System; Sonia Rey Planellas, Professor at the University of Stirling, UK; Hans Van de Vis, Senior Researcher at Wageningen Livestock Research Institute; Tore Kristiansen, Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
Second Thematic Forum: Practical Challenges, Opportunities, and Risks in Translating Welfare Research into Commercial Use
Host: Li Dapeng, Vice President of Huazhong Agricultural University
Panel Guests (from left to right): Wang Xin, Director of Market Development, China, Global Aquaculture Alliance; Mariana Cabral Pereira, Researcher, Portuguese Marine Research Center; Lynne Sneddon, Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Michael Brerren, Senior Researcher, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research; Huang Liuyi, Professor, Ocean University of China; Olav Ro, Aquaculture Director, Noxus Aquaculture (Ningbo) Co., Ltd.; Ji Changlin, Aquaculture Department Manager, Zhejiang Huiye (Aquatic) Co., Ltd.
Launch Ceremony of the Chinese Translation of 'Fish Welfare'
In the presence of numerous domestic and international experts and scholars in the field of aquatic animal welfare, the conference held a launch ceremony for the Chinese translation of the book "The Welfare of Fish." The book "Fish Welfare" was published. The original authors of the book are Tore Kristiansen, Michael A. Pavlidis, Anders Fjellå, and Marcel E. V. G.; the chief advisors are Zhu Songming and Liu Ying; the main translators are Ye Zhangying and Li Xue; Zhao Jing is a member of the Fisheries Resources and Environment Committee of the Chinese Society of Fisheries and a member of the Fish Culture Branch of the Chinese Society of Fisheries.
Meeting Summary
Professor Ye Zhangying, the chairman of the conference from Zhejiang University, summarized the participation and discussions. Compared with the first session, this conference made significant breakthroughs in the number of participating countries, attendees, and discussion topics, covering welfare aspects such as fisheries capture, aquaculture animal breeding, farming, transportation, and capture, as well as aquatic animal welfare policy strategies, opportunities, and challenges 2.0. The discussions included 9 expert reports and multiple themed forums. The conference hopes that through rigorous scientific research and solid practice, we believe that the cause of aquatic animal welfare will develop faster and better in China and around the world.
Related Links
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