Welfare Science

Fish Anaesthesia and Welfare in Research

Fish anaesthesia is used in both research and aquaculture for procedures including tagging, blood sampling, and surgery, with welfare implications for the fish and validity of research data.

Key Facts

MS-222 and clove oil are the most commonly used fish anaesthetics in research
Improper anaesthesia causes pain and distress affecting research data quality
Recovery from anaesthesia requires appropriate water quality and monitoring
EU regulatory requirements for fish anaesthesia vary by procedure and member state
Training in fish anaesthesia improves both welfare outcomes and research quality

Welfare Considerations

Fish anaesthesia welfare requires species-appropriate agents, appropriate dosing, careful monitoring, and competent operator training. Good anaesthesia practice benefits both fish welfare and research quality. Regulatory requirements for fish procedures are less developed than for mammals.

What You Can Do

Advocate for fish to receive equivalent anaesthesia requirements to mammalian research subjects
Support training in fish anaesthesia as part of aquatic research competency requirements
Engage with fish welfare research literature to understand current evidence and gaps