Ethical and welfare considerations when using cephalopods as experimental animals

Abstract: When using cephalopods as experimental animals, a number of factors, including morality, quality of information derived from experiments, and public perception, drives the motivation to consider welfare issues. Refinement of methods and techniques is a major step in ensuring protection of cephalopod welfare in both laboratory and field studies. To this end, existing literature that provides details of methods used in the collection, handling, maintenance, and culture of a range of cephalopods is a useful starting point when refining and justifying decisions about animal welfare. This review collates recent literature in which authors have used cephalopods as experimental animals, revealing the extent of use and diversity of cephalopod species and techniques. It also highlights several major issues when considering cephalopod welfare; how little is known about disease in cephalopods and its relationship to senescence and also how to define objective endpoints when animals are stressed or dying as a result of the experiment

Current Status and Future Challenges in Cephalopod Culture

11 pagesThis chapter presents an overall perspective on the current status of cephalopod culture, its bottlenecks and future challenges. It focuses on the species that have received more research effort and consequently accumulated more scientific literature during the present century, namely Sepia officinalis, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Octopus maya and Octopus vulgaris. Knowledge regarding physiology, metabolism and nutrition of different species is still lacking. Two main challenges are identified: the development of a sustainable artificial diet and the control of reproduction. Understanding cephalopod physiology and nutrition will probably be the biggest challenge in developing the large-scale culture of this group of molluscs on a medium to long term. In addition, zootechnical parameters need future research and improvement. The performance of an ethical experimentation with cephalopods is strongly encouraged and any zootechnical development should be performed and adapted accordingly. The potential of cephalopod culture extends far beyond its use for research and human consumption and probably it will be translated in a remarkable production in the coming yearsThis chapter presents an overall perspective on the current status of cephalopod culture, its bottlenecks and future challenges. It focuses on the species that have received more research effort and consequently accumulated more scientific literature during the present century, namely Sepia officinalis, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Octopus maya and Octopus vulgaris. Knowledge regarding physiology, metabolism and nutrition of different species is still lacking. Two main challenges are identified: the development of a sustainable artificial diet and the control of reproduction. Understanding cephalopod physiology and nutrition will probably be the biggest challenge in developing the large-scale culture of this group of molluscs on a medium to long term. In addition, zootechnical parameters need future research and improvement. The performance of an ethical experimentation with cephalopods is strongly encouraged and any zootechnical development should be performed and adapted accordingly. The potential of cephalopod culture extends far beyond its use for research and human consumption and probably it will be translated in a remarkable production in the coming yearsPeer reviewe