Just as with other farmed vertebrates such as cattle, sheep and poultry, the humane slaughter of fish requires that fish are handled carefully and effectively stunned (causing immediate insensibility) prior to being bled out. Unfortunately, traditional methods of killing fish do not meet these requirements. Farmed fish are still commonly…
The RSPCA Standard for farmed Atlantic salmon focusses on ensuring good farming practices, fish handling, husbandry and management. For good fish welfare, fish have space to swim normally in oxygen-rich water and can school with other fish, they are handled in a low stress manner and are slaughtered humanely. During…
There are two main methods of catching Atlantic salmon for slaughter. Fish can be removed from their marine pens through large pipes and transferred to specialised slaughter boats that sit alongside the pen. Alternatively, fish are transferred to large ‘well boats’ that transport fish directly to slaughter or to holding…
In 2022, global production of aquatic animals through aquaculture (51%) exceeded capture fisheries production (49% of total production) for the first time [1]. With reduced abundance of wild caught fish stocks and increasing demand for seafood, this percentage is likely to increase in the future. Aquaculture is seen as an…
In Tasmania, farmed Atlantic salmon may be vulnerable to attack by seals and sea birds. Maintaining good fish welfare by protecting farmed Atlantic salmon from predators, such as seals and sea birds is critical to the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards. Fish are vulnerable to stress, injuries and mortalities as…
Compliance with regulatory requirements in relation to environmental impact management and monitoring is a prerequisite of all producers wishing to be certified to an RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard. For aquaculture to be sustainable, there is a need to balance, rather than trade-off, the welfare of farmed fish and protection…
The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme is Australia’s leading independent certification scheme focused on animal welfare. We work closely with farmers to make a positive impact on the lives of farm animals by providing an environment that meets their behavioural needs. Since releasing our first animal welfare standards for farmed Atlantic…
There is increasing public concern regarding the welfare of horses and cattle used in rodeos due to the potential risks of injury and distress. The laws relating to rodeos vary widely between states and territories and do not protect animals used in rodeos from harm. Rodeos involve several different events…
The commercial production of fetal bovine serum starts with the collection of blood from fetal calves at licensed abattoirs. Because the blood of unborn calves has only been exposed to their mother’s blood coming to them across the placenta (which filters out most bacteria and viruses), fetal blood is free…
The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme is Australia’s leading independent certification scheme focused on animal welfare. The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme’s vision is a future of higher welfare farming and its mission to improve the quality of life of farmed animals. We work closely with farmers to make a positive impact…