Additional data on protected animals not reported as used within experimental procedures 2017 and 2018

Cefas conducts applied research using fish which aims to: protect wild populations, biodiversity and the environment; and reduce disease and improve welfare in cultured stocks.

In the UK all experimental work with protected (sentient) animals which has the potential to cause suffering is regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended Regulations 2012)ⁱ. This regulation, referred to as ASPA, is administered by the Home Office. ASPA requires researchers to minimise animal use and harm, and Establishments to record the “source, use and final disposal of all protected animals bred, kept or used at the establishment for any regulated activities”ⁱⁱ.

The Home Office requires annual reporting of the numbers of individual animals used in regulated procedures and the severity of the harm they experienced; national Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals are then publishedⁱⁱⁱ. As a signatory of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research Cefas publishes data on our experimental use of animals in regulated procedures^iv.

Once every 5 years, the Home Office also collects “additional data” on the numbers of protected animals bred at establishments that were killed or died but not reported as used in regulated procedures. To date, the Home Office has only collected these data for 2017. With the intent to be open about our animal research, Cefas is publishing its “additional data” for 2017 and 2018 (tabulated below). Supplementary data on the numbers of fish of farmed and wild origins (i.e. not laboratory-bred) are also included for completeness.

The majority (ca. 86%) of our non-procedure fish were laboratory-bred for use in research. The species reflect their use as laboratory animals and/or relevance to the applied research. Cefas regularly reviews the numbers of broodstock held and the production of surplus animals, at both AWERB and management levels. The reduction in number between 2017 and 2018 reflects our response to changing demands for experimental use. The numbers represent:

• fish used in experiments that were not regulated procedures;

• broodstock used to produce eggs and pre-feeding larvae for non-regulated use (e.g. three- spined stickleback, zebrafish, cod, plaice);

• broodstock used to produce later developmental stage animals for regulated use (e.g. three- spined stickleback);

• surplus fish associated with rearing batches, not used after development to an unsuitable stage or size, and contingency animals (all species);

• fish that died after the first-feeding

Farmed-origin fish contributed a further 13% to the total numbers, with wild-origin fish comprising

<1%. The species of farmed and wild fish reflect their importance as Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species, and to fisheries, environmental quality, aquaculture and recreational fishing.

All fish killed were euthanised in accordance with the ASPA Schedule 1 Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing^v and where appropriate were also used to enable mandatory staff training.

Glossary

Protected animal: “All living vertebrates, other than a human, including certain immature forms, and any living cephalopod.” “Larval forms of fish and amphibians are protected animals once they are capable of feeding independently.”

Establishment: “A place holding a licence which has been granted under section 2C of ASPA”

 

Regulated procedure: “A procedure is regulated if it is carried out on a protected animal for a scientific or educational purpose and may cause that animal a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.”

AWERB: Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body

Additional data on the numbers of animals that were killed or died in 2017 and 2018 but were not reported as used within procedures.

Origin	Specis common name	Species scientific name	2017 Number	2017 % Total	2018 Number	2018 % Total	% Change 2017-2018
Bred for scientific use:	Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	4,778		2,643
	Rainbow trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	4,482		2,184
	Atlantic cod	Gadus morhua	2,505		-
	Zebrafish	Danio rerio	826		929
	Three-spined stickleback	Gasterosteus aculeatus	680		640
	Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	-		1,097
	European plaice	Pleuronectes platessa	970		-
	Sub-total		14,241	88%	7,493	83%	-47%
Farmed:	Ballan wrasse	Labrus bergylta	939		812
	Sea bass	Dicentrarchus labrax	627		167
	Turbot	Scophthalmus maximus	81		339
	Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	103		29
	Barbel	Barbus barbus	92		-
	Chub	Leuciscus cephalus	92		-
	Goldfish	Carassius auratus	-		62
	Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	-		20
	Sub-total		1,934	12%	1,429	16%	-26%
Wild-caught	European plaice	Pleuronectes platessa	35		5
	Sandy goby	Pomatoschistus minutus	-		30
	Dab	Limanda limanda	-		27
	Atlantic cod	Gadus morhua	6		11
	Common sole	Solea solea	7		7
	Dragonet	Callionymus lyra	-		7
	Thornback ray	Raja clavata	3		-
	Bull rout	Myoxocephalus scorpius	2		1
	European eel	Anguilla anguilla	1		-
	Greater pipefish	Syngnathus acus	1		-
	Pogge	Agonus cataphractus	-		1
	Three-bearded rockling	Gaidropsarus vulgaris	-		1
	Subtotal		55	0.3%	90	1%	64%
All	Total		16,230	100%	9,012	100%	-44%

ⁱ https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3039/contents/made

ii https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662364/ Guidance_on_the_Operation_of_ASPA.pdf

ⁱⁱⁱ https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals

^iv https://www.cefas.co.uk/about-us/policies-plans-and-reports/

^v https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/14/schedule/1