Perception of Fish Sentience, Welfare and Humane Slaughter by Highly Educated Citizens of Bogotá, Colombia and Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

Discussions on farm animal welfare have become frequent, especially in developed countries. The aim of this research was to study the perception of fish sentience, welfare and slaughter by highly educated citizens from Bogotá, Colombia, and Curitiba, Brazil. An online survey with 12 questions presented as open-ended, multiple choice and 5-point Likert-type scale formats was available to respondents. Answers from 395 participants in Bogotá and 387 in Curitiba were analyzed, and results are presented in the order Bogotá followed by Curitiba. The percentage of participants who perceived fish as sentient animals was 79.7% and 71.8%. The classification of sentience perception among taxonomic groups seems in accordance with the phylogenetic proximity to humans, suggesting participants were more likely to perceive sentience in mammals than in other animals. The descending order related to the highest perception of fish suffering in different scenarios was fishing with hook and line (75.6%, 70.6%); municipal live fish fair (68.7%—only in Curitiba); fish-and-pay ponds (59.7%, 54.4%); fish kept as laboratory animals (58.0, 48.1%); fish farming (35.7, 36.8%); fish in pet stores (35.5%, 26.1%); production of ornamental fish (19.3%, 21.8%); fish in aquarium exhibits (18.8%,16.9%); and fish kept as pets (12.4%,12.3%). Lack of knowledge about the conditions of capture, handling, transport and sale of ornamental fish may justify the perception of low level of suffering in the last scenarios. Regarding humane slaughter, 57.0% and 55.0% of respondents were unaware of the issue. After reflection induced by the questionnaire, 76.0% and 72% of participants believed that fish should be included in humane slaughter regulations. This study presents original data suggesting that respondents from Bogotá and Curitiba consider fish as sentient beings. The perception of suffering in specific scenarios challenges common activities. Recognition of suffering also endorses humane slaughter regulations to reduce pain in a large number of individuals of fish slaughtered annually for human consumption in Colombia and Brazil.

Factors Related to Animal Neglect in Brazilian Laboratories

“…Opinions about animal emotions that were revealed by this study show that mammals are perceived as having a higher degree of sentience when compared to other animals. This finding is in agreement with other studies, 26 –29,30 which reported that species more phylogenetically distant from humans were considered to be less sentient. This has also been described in another study, 31 which highlighted what seems to be a common opinion in science — that dogs are closer to humans, as compared to mice and rats — and for this reason experiments on the latter two species are considered more acceptable.…”

Tilapia On-Farm Welfare Assessment Protocol for Semi-intensive Production Systems

“…According to Pedrazzani et al (20), 87% of people interviewed in the town of Araucária, Southern Brazil, believed that fish are capable to feel pain and 85% that common slaughter methods cause suffering. Similar results were obtained by Rucinque et al (88), who conducted an interview with highly educated citizens from Bogotá and Curitiba. From the participants, 79.7 and 71.8% perceived fish as sentient animals, and 76.0 and 72.0% believed that fish should be included in humane slaughter regulations, respectively.…”

Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) Seek Out Tactile Interaction with Humans: General Patterns and Individual Differences

“…Human perceptions and emotions influence actions and decisions and as such, improving human attitudes towards a species can lead to improvements in their care and strengthen support for their protection [ 47 , 107 ]. Given the relatively uncharitable public opinion towards fish in general and lack of awareness around fish cognition, sentience and emotion [ 108 , 109 , 110 ], research establishing the potential for positive human–fish interactions is particularly needed to counteract baseline expectations and improve perceptions of fishes’ worth and moral status. Additional work exploring human–fish interactions thus has the potential to have significant downstream consequences for the welfare of fishes including increasing public support for fish protection and regulations.…”