Aquatic Animal Welfare

Theoretical and practical subject.

The first part of the course deals with legislations and regulations in animal experimentation and which types of experiments are under the Animal welfare act and the legislations and regulations which apply to the hold of live fish and decapods. The biological part of the course includes lectures on pain perception, stressors and stress responses, health and welfare, anaesthesia/immobilisation, acclimation, environmental needs and tagging methods. The course also encompasses seminars in which the various topics in the lectures, including ethical issues and considerations, are discussed. Seminars also include work with experimental design (including the three R's) of a given research topic, and compilation of an application to the Norwegian animal research authority on the same research topic. Finally the course includes a one day excursion to the research station in Kårvik for practical demonstrations of experiment preparation, fish handling, blood sampling, anesthesia etc.

To be admitted to this PhD course, the applicant must be a student at a PhD programme. Non-UiT PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that they are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.

PhD students at UiT register for the course through StudentWeb. The registration for spring semester starts in the middle of December.

External PhD students apply for admission through SøknadsWeb. Application code 9301.

Contact Ingjerd Gauslaa Nilsen at the BFE-faculty if you have troubles or questions regarding registration to the course.

The course is mandatory for researchers who carry out experiments with aquatic animals (fish and decapods) and follows the minimum recommendations for education and training for researchers (FELASA C researcher).

The course should give the students sufficient knowledge and background for conducting legal, environmentally safe end ethically acceptable experimental work with live fish and decapods in Norway.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student should have a:

• thorough knowledge of the legislation and regulations in animal experimentation, including the Animal welfare act (Dyrevelferdsloven) and the aquaculture management regulation (Akvakulturdriftsforskriften)
• sound understanding of the ethical guidelines for the use of animals in research and develop a respectful attitude while performing experimental work with live animal
• sufficient knowledge about relevant and important aspects of fish and decapod biology, including pain perception, stressors and stress responses, health and welfare, anesthesia/immobilization, acclimation, environmental needs and tagging methods
• sound understanding of the welfare indicator tools for assessing fish welfare in aquaculture

Skills

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• write an animal experimentation application and apply to the Norwegian animal research authority (Forsøksdyrutvalget) for permission to do experiments
• conduct experimental work in accordance with the "the three R's" (Replace, Reduce, Refine) and the ethical guidelines for the use of animals in research

General competence

After completing the course, the student should have developed:

• ethically sound attitudes towards animals used in experiments reflecting "the three R's" (Replace, Reduce, Refine) and focusing on fish and decapod welfare
• understanding of the most important principles for choosing methods for handling and treating fish and decapods; understand the principles behind anesthesia, analgesia and humane killing of lab animals
• understanding of the general principles and steps for planning animal experiments, including quality control
• skills to assess welfare via operational and laboratory welfare indicators in aquaculture
• skills to assess published information on animal experiments

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-1006 Animal- and plant physiology, BIO-2002 Animal Physiology

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• BIO-3503 Aquatic Animal Welfare 5 stp

Lectures, seminars and activities at the fish research station in Kårvik.

One day excursion to the research station in Kårvik will include practical demonstrations of experiment preparation, fish handling, blood sampling, anaesthesia, etc.

The necessary safety training will be provided at Kårvik.

Language of instruction and examination

PhD students at UiT register for the course through StudentWeb before 1 February. The registration starts in middle of December.

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1. December. Application code 9301. Applicants who are granted a seat, needs to register for classes and exam in StudentWeb before 1 February. The registration starts in middle of December.

Researchers at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway or external institutions who carry out experiments with aquatic animals should apply for BIO-3503. Deadline: December 1st.

More info about the coursework requirements

In order to sit the examination, students must complete and gain approval for the following coursework requirements:

• Writing an essay on a given topic related to fish or decapod welfare.
• Obligatory attendance on lectures, seminars and excursion.

Re-sit examination