Annual statistics for regulated scientific procedures performed on protected animals 2018

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), usually referred to as ASPA. This regulation requires researchers to minimise animal use and
harm, and report the numbers of individuals used and the severity of the harm they experienced to
the Home Office. As a signatory of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research Cefas is
publishing its statistics on experimental use of animals in 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 support of these
aims, in 2018 Cefas used 6,533 fish across twenty-one species in scientific procedures that had the
potential to cause suffering to the fish (tabulated below). The species used reflect their importance
as Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species, and to fisheries, environmental quality, aquaculture and
recreational fishing.

Cefas has a strong culture of care, supported by Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies which
ensure all animal use is justified. Researchers minimise numbers used via robust experimental
designs, and minimise suffering by implementing humane end-points and frequent monitoring. This
is reflected in the actual severity levels which fish experience – the vast majority of fish used in 2018
(83%) were categorised as a mild severity level; a further 4% were classified as sub-threshold.

In 2018 ballan wrasse was the most used species; use in disease studies reflects their new
importance as sea-lice eating “cleaner fish” in the salmon farming industry.

In 2018 Cefas also continued investigating the use of fish embryos as a replacement for later
(sentient) developmental stages in studies on the effects of chemicals and pathogens.

Glossary (terms as defined in the Guidance on the Operation 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.”

Non-recovery: “Procedures which are performed entirely under general anaesthesia from which the
animal shall not recover consciousness”.

Sub-threshold: “below the level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to that caused
by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice”.

Mild: “Procedures on animals as a result of which the animals are likely to experience short-term
mild pain, suffering or distress, as well as procedures with no significant impairment of the wellbeing
or general condition of the animals”.

Moderate: “Procedures on animals as a result of which the animals are likely to experience shortterm
moderate pain, suffering or distress, or long-lasting mild pain, suffering or distress as well as
procedures that are likely to cause moderate impairment of the well-being or general condition of
the animals”.

Severe: “Procedures on animals as a result of which the animals are likely to experience severe pain,
suffering or distress, or long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress, as well as procedures that
are likely to cause severe impairment of the well-being or general condition of the animals”.

Cefas use of protected animals within regulated scientific procedures in 2018 (actual severity level):

Species common name	Species scientific name	Sub-threshold	Non-recovery	Mild	Moderate	Severe	Total (%)
Ballan wrasse	Labrus bergylta	100	-	1,816	421	1	2,338 (36%)
Minnow	Phoxinus phoxinus	-	-	1,006	-	-	1,006 (15%)
Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	29	-	705	249	-	983 (15%)
Bullhead	Cottus gobio	-	-	802	-	-	802 (12%)
Sea/ Brown trout	Salmo trutta	-	-	554	-	-	554 (8%)
Three-spined stickleback	Gasterosteus aculeatus	16	-	126	-	-	142 (2%)
Goldfish	Carassius auratus	30	-	88	1	1	120 (2%)
Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	30	-	90	-	-	120 (2%)
Starry smooth hound	Mustelus asterias	-	-	-	99	-	99 (2%)
European eel	Anguilla anguilla	-	-	68	-	-	68 (≤1%)
Sea bass	Dicentrarchus labrax	-	-	35	33	-	68 (≤1%)
Undulate ray	Raja undulata	-	-	-	65	-	65 (≤1%)
Turbot	Scophthalmus maximus	30	-	-	26	-	56 (≤1%)
Stone loach	Barbatula barbatula	-	-	39	-	-	39 (≤1%)
Roach	Rutilus rutilus	-	-	26	-	-	26 (≤1%)
Brook lamprey	Lampetra planeri	-	-	18	-	-	18 (≤1%)
Grayling	Thymallus thymallus	-	-	15	-	-	15 (≤1%)
Perch	Perca fluviatilis	-	-	8	-	-	8 (≤1%)
Pike	Esox lucius	-	-	3	-	-	3 (≤1%)
Chub	Squalius cephalus	-	-	2	-	-	2 (≤1%)
Gudgeon	Gobio gobio	-	-	1	-	-	1 (≤1%)
Total (%)		235 (4%)	- (0%)	5,402 (83%)	894 (14%)	2 (≤1%)	6,533