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Collaborative project: Stunning of large fish by percussion or captive bolt: development of operating procedures and evaluation of animal welfare aspects - subproject B (BeFiBo)
Project
Project code: 2817807B18, FLI-ITT-08-Ce-0077
Contract period: 15.07.2020
- 14.07.2023
Budget: 123,380 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The aim of this project is to safeguard animal welfare during the slaughter of large fish specimens. To this end, the stunning of these fish by means of percussion or captive bolt will be evaluated with regard to effectiveness and animal welfare. Stunning of fish must ensure the induction of a long-lasting loss of perception, which allows the fish to be killed while still in a stage of insensibility. By means of the stunning procedures currently prescribed in Germany, this goal is difficult to achieve in some fish species. Some fish species have a low sensitivity to the stunning effect of electric current. During stunning of large fish specimens by percussion, however, a forceful blow has to be applied to the skull at a particular location. In BeFiBo, the force required for rendering fish insensible by percussion will be measured. Subsequently, a computer simulation model will be used to derive parameters that promise efficient stunning. In an identical manner, the application of a non-penetrating captive bolt device will be examined. For the stunning of sturgeon and catfish specimens over 25 Kg, stunning by means of a penetrating captive bolt device will be investigated as an alternative to stunning by percussion. In a laboratory study, indicators will be evaluated which will allow monitoring of the loss of consciousness of fish during the slaughter process on farms. The degree of distress or suffering related to the stunning process will be determined by measuring blood parameters. In co-operation with aquaculture farms, operating procedures will be developed for stunning fish by percussion or captive bolt, which will ensure effective stunning and safeguard animal welfare. The operating procedures will be made available to farm managers and official staff during training courses and as teaching material. In this way, legal requirements for stunning fish will be met and a high standard of animal welfare will be guaranteed in food fish production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
Participating institutions
Funding institution
Project management agencies
Associated projects: BeFiBo
- Collaborative project: Stunning of large fish by percussion or captive bolt: development of operating procedures and evaluation of animal welfare aspects - subproject A
- Collaborative project: Stunning of large fish by percussion or captive bolt: development of operating procedures and evaluation of animal welfare aspects - subproject C
- Collaborative project: Stunning of large fish by percussion or captive bolt: development of operating procedures and evaluation of animal welfare aspects - subproject D
- Collaborative project: Stunning of large fish by percussion or captive bolt: development of operating procedures and evaluation of animal welfare aspects - subproject E
