Additional data on protected animals not reported as used within experimental procedures 2019

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 published[iii]. 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 2019 (tabulated below). Supplementary data on the numbers of fish of farmed and wild origins (i.e. not laboratory-bred) are also included for completeness, alongside figures for 2017 and 2018.

In 2019, as in previous years, the majority (95%) of our “additional” fish were reared in the laboratory specifically for use in research. The remainder (5%) were brought in from fish farms. The lack of wild origin fish in 2019 reflects a temporary change in research projects undertaken. The species reflect their relevance to the applied research and/or use as laboratory animals. In 2019, the additional numbers represent:

• surplus fish associated with rearing batches for experimental use;
• contingency animals reared or bought in to ensure suitable numbers for experiments;
• fish that were used to provide research samples outside regulated procedures;
• fish sampled to confirm the health status of stocks prior to experimental use;
• fish that died after the first-feeding stage.

All fish killed were euthanised in accordance with the ASPA Schedule 1 Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing[v] and were used during mandatory staff training where appropriate.

Cefas’s additional numbers increased by 5% from 2018 to 2019, due to increased in-house production of specific pathogen free common carp for experimental use. However, our additional numbers have decreased by 41% since 2017, largely due to reduced laboratory production of other species.

Cefas regularly reviews the use and production of animals in relation to anticipated research requirements, at both management and AWERB levels. The routine production of zebrafish and 3-spined stickleback ceased in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Production of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout was halved in 2018-2019, and from 2020 these species are only to be reared when a specific research requirement has been identified. It is expected that the production of common carp will continue to support research, although year-class production was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation restricting research. Rearing and use of marine fish species was suspended following closure of the Lowestoft aquarium, but is likely to be reinstated with transfer of work to Weymouth.

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: the numbers of animals that were killed or died in 2017-2019 but were not reported as used in regulated procedures.

[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-reports-and-quality/plans-and-reports/animals-in-science/

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

	Common name	Scientific name	Number 2017	Number 2018	Number 2019	% Change 2018-19	% Change 2017-19
Bred for scientific use:	Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	4,778	2,643	2,235
	Rainbow trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	4,482	2,184	2,253
	Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	-	1,097	3,970
	Atlantic cod	Gadus morhua	2,505	-	-
	Zebrafish	Danio rerio	826	929	-
	3-spined stickleback	Gasterosteus aculeatus	680	640	534
	European plaice	Pleuronectes platessa	970	-	-
	Sub-total		14,241	7,493	8,992	20%	-37%
	% Total		88%	83%	95%
Farmed:	Ballan wrasse	Labrus bergylta	939	812	-
	Sea bass	Dicentrarchus labrax	627	167	439
	Turbot	Scophthalmus maximus	81	339	-
	Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	103	29	35
	Barbel	Barbus barbus	92	-	-
	Chub	Leuciscus cephalus	92	-	-
	Goldfish	Carassius auratus	-	62	-
	Lumpfish	Cyclopterus lumpus	-	-	30
	Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	-	20	-
	Sub-total		1,934	1,429	504	-65%	-74%
	% Total		12%	16%	5%
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 clavate	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	90	0	-100%	-100%
	% Total		0.3%	1.0%	0.0%
All	Total		16,230	9,012	9,496	5%	-41%