Abstract - Wahltinez

Ethics of Aquatic Invertebrate Management and Farming

Aquatic invertebrate welfare is often overlooked, yet it is an important consideration for the management of free-ranging and farmed animals. While our knowledge of the experience of invertebrates currently lags behind that for terrestrial mammals, there is exciting research evaluating the cognitive capacities of this diverse group of animals with implications for understanding their sentience and ability to perceive pain. This talk will cover some ethical dimensions of invertebrate management, including the challenges with evaluating aquatic invertebrate sentience and pain perception, performing welfare assessments for invertebrates and practical considerations for safeguarding invertebrate welfare. The complex challenges of balancing ecological integrity with human interests will be discussed, using the crown-of-thorns starfish in the Great Barrier Reef as a case study. Additionally, the presentation will discuss animal welfare considerations for farmed crustaceans, focusing on humane slaughter methods. By examining these case studies, this talk aims to stimulate critical thought about the ethics of aquatic invertebrate management and farming, and to promote the development of practical ways to improve invertebrate welfare. 

Dr Sarah Wahltinez
Aquatic Animal Welfare Veterinarian
Nautilus Collaboration