Declaring fish to be animals during larval stage will allow for ethical oversight of research, testing and teaching carried out on zebrafish in New Zealand and improve transparency and accuracy of the number of animals used in these activities in New Zealand. Scientific evidence indicates that zebrafish during larval stage commence active behaviours indicative of the onset of sentience meaning there is an obligation to protect them. Larval fish are currently excluded under the definition of animals in the Act and therefore are not protected under any part of the Act. Zebrafish are a common experimental model, predominantly used during the larval stages of development. SPCA advocates that the definition of animal in the Animal Welfare Act 1999 be broadened to include larval fish. This range of mental states should be explicitly acknowledged in legislation. Sentience is the capacity of animals to perceive by their senses and, thereby, to consciously experience both negative and positive mental states (feelings, emotions and experiences) which are important to them and which influence their welfare. The inclusion of sentience in the Act with no accompanying definition makes the practical impact of its inclusion unclear.Īnimals are referred to as “it” throughout the Act, which objectifies animals and does not support the recognition of their sentience. SPCA advocates for a definition of sentience to be added to the Animal Welfare Act 1999 as well as an explicit acknowledgement of a range of mental states in animals, both positive and negative. Leading sentience researchers dig deep into the inner lives of animals, and question whether we’re ready to accept the consequences of non-human emotion. Standards should aim to minimise the experience of avoidable negative emotions in animals (such as fear, anxiety, helplessness and loneliness) and require opportunities for normal behaviour and positive experiences (such as play, exploration, comfort and appropriate social interaction). This means that standards should be set to protect animals for their own sake rather than to cater to human interests such as export earnings or trading reputation. The degree of centralization of the nervous system is perhaps the most important evidence concerning the sentience of an animal. SPCA supports the consideration of animal sentience whenever standards are developed under this Act. There are two main indicators of sentience related to the structure of animals’ nervous systems: the extent that they are centralized and the neuron count. SPCA supports the inclusion of the word “sentience” in the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and advocates for animal sentience to be considered when minimum standards and regulations are developed.Īnimal sentience was included in the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (the Act) in 2015. SPCA supports ongoing research into animal sentience to ensure that all animals are appropriately cared for. The evidence supporting the sentience of some animals such as insects or molluscs is not as clear. There is significant evidence supporting the sentience of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and some decapod crustaceans and cephalopods (such as crayfish, crabs, octopus and squid). Recognising sentience means that SPCA acknowledges animals as individuals who have meaningful and unique emotions and experiences. ‘Animal sentience’ refers to the concept that animals are capable of having feelings, emotions, perceptions and experiences that matter to them. Nothing will change immediately, but it means that there is now a legal mechanism to allow them to be protected from unnecessary suffering in the future.SPCA recognises animals to be sentient beings. “We are really pleased that the government has decided to protect cephalopods and decapods following our report. Scientific evidence about the complex behaviour and nervous systems of these animals has been accumulating over recent decades, and it has led us to conclude that there is a strong likelihood of these species being sentient.” “Sentience is the ability to have feelings, such as pain, distress, or comfort. The report on the likelihood of sentience in cephalopods and decapod crustaceans was led by Jonathan Birch at the London School of Economics, and the team reviewed over 300 scientific papers. Read the story on the Government website here →ĭr Charlotte Burn, Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare and Behaviour Science & Deputy Head of Group, Centre for Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), was an author on the Defra commissioned report that led to this government decision. This paves the way for legal protection from practices like being boiled alive and having the tendons of their pincers cut. The UK government has declared that lobsters, crabs, octopuses and related species will be included under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. Lobsters, octopuses and crabs recognised as sentient beings in UK Law
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