Insights into the concept of fish welfare

Fish welfare issues are predicated on understanding whether fish are sentient beings. Therefore, we analyzed the logic of the methodologies used for studying this attribute. We conclude that empirical science is unable to prove or to disprove that fish are sentient beings. Thus, we propose a combined ethical-scientific approach for considering fish as sentient beings. The most difficult ongoing question is to determine which conditions fish prefer. Approaches to assess fish preferences should be rigorously and cautiously employed. In light of these considerations, attempts to establish physiological standards for fish welfare are discouraged, and a preference-based definition of fish welfare is proposed.     

Safeguarding the many guises of farmed fish welfare

There has been a great deal of debate and sometimes open hostility between people with differing approaches to the welfare of farmed animals, but relatively little progress towards compromise or consensus. It has been suggested that progress has been inhibited by a fundamental lack of common ground; people are debating different questions. Compromise or consensus can only be achieved through understanding and this in turn requires effective presentation of information and constructive dialogue. In this paper we adapt a previously published framework to present and evaluate information relevant to a wide range of definitions of fish welfare. Through improved understanding we will increase our capacity to safeguard many aspects of welfare of farmed fish, satisfying the demands of more but not all stakeholders.     

Guidelines for health and welfare monitoring of fish used in research

The aim of this paper is to provide background material necessary for the development of international guidelines for the health and welfare monitoring of fish used in research. It provides an overview of present guidelines and discusses why more detailed and species-specific guidelines are needed. A major issue within fish research is to document the situation today and point out areas where improvements are needed.     

Aggression and welfare in a common aquarium fish, the Midas cichlid

Many species of fishes are aggressive when placed in small aquaria. Aggression can negatively affect the welfare of those individuals toward whom it is directed. Animals may behave aggressively in order to defend resources such as food, shelter, mates, and offspring. The decision to defend depends on the distribution of resources and on ecological factors such as number of competitors, amount of available space, and amount of habitat complexity. This study tested the effects of these factors on aggression in a common aquarium fish, the Midas cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus). The study found that time spent behaving aggressively was not associated with small-scale differences in group size or available space. Aggression was significantly lower in a large aquarium with a complex habitat. Aquaria of sizes typically used in the companion animal (pet) hobby did not provide optimal welfare for cichlids housed with aggressive conspecifics. The public should be aware that this and similar species require larger aquaria with complex habitat, which elicit more natural behavior.     

The ornamental fish trade and fish conservation

The global trade in ornamental fish and associated aquarium and pond accessories is in excess of U.S. $7 × 10⁹ each year. Although the majority of freshwater fish involved in the trade are from captive-bred sources, significant numbers are still removed from the wild. In addition, almost all of the marine fish in the trade are wild-caught. Whilst habitat destruction, pollution and overfishing for food are the main threats facing fish populations in the wild, the ornamental fish trade may have adverse effects as a result of the introduction of nonnative organisms, and by the direct depletion of wild stocks. The ornamental fish trade is ideally placed to raise public awareness of, and actively support, fish conservation efforts, and must maintain a close liaison with legislative-forming organizations seeking to impose further trade restrictions.     

The biology of triploid fish

This review deals with major areas of triploidy research in fish. It includes not only methods for induction and detection of triploidy but also the impact of triploidy on morphology, anatomy, growth, haematology, energetics, behaviour, endocrinology and gonads in various species of fish, studied so far. The future prospects of research on triploid fish are discussed inviting researchers with diverse areas of interest in fish biology.     

The transport of freshwater fish

A method is described for the transport of fish resulting in very few or no mortalities during or after this procedure. Commercial salt is added to the water to give a final conentration of 0–5 %, compressed air is bubbled through the water and the fish are kept in 'salt water' after transportation to decrease the incidence of skin infections.     

鱼类的繁殖类型

鱼类与高等脊椎动物相比其繁殖方式具有多样性,不仅有卵生、胎生和卵胎生,还有孤雌生殖、雌核发育和杂合发育。     

The emergence of the oil welfare state: The case of Kuwait

Conclusion This essay provided an analytical account of the emergence and development of social welfare in the newly emerging oil-rich state of Kuwait, by delineating the particular historical conditions and socio-economic transformations which were responsible for giving this welfare state its particular structure.We relied on specific theoretical guidelines and concepts derived from the much honored holistic tradition in anthropology and political economy, as well as on formulations developed by scholars coming from the new tradition in the development approach in welfare studies.The analytical elucidation presented here indicates that a multiplicity of both internal and external factors and/or determinants have simultaneously influenced the development of the oil welfare state in Kuwait. The origins, nature, timing and interplay of all these factors appear to be specific and unique to the experience of Gulf societies, and have given rise to particular socio-political configurations and psychological effects. Thus the new soical welfare conditions which have emerged in modern Kuwait are different in many significant ways from those experienced in both the advanced industrial capitalist societies and Third World countries. Moreover, the economic, social, cultural and historical specificities of the oil-rich societies have made the overall development and the functions of the welfare state different from those found to be recurrent in advanced capitalist societies.It appears that, on one hand, the new oil welfare state has succeeded in modernizing life and bettering the human condition of its small population. Yet, on the other hand, this form of extensive oil-welfarism has in itself generated certain conditions which appear to have some-what weakened the capacities of these societies to achieve genuine development. In other words, it has failed to stimulate the development of productive social forces and other supportive infrastructural conditions from within society itself. A thorough analysis of these and other consequences which have become well embedded in the fabric of Kuwaiti society and culture requires and entirely separate paper.Sulayman Khalaf is Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Kuwait University. Hassan Hammoud is Assistant Professor of Social Work, Kuwait University.