Table 3 Potential standards for intracoelomic BCT implantation

1. General requirements that apply to all procedures must:

i. Be appropriate for the species and the circumstances

ii. Be compatible with the purpose and aims of the project or activity

iii. Cause the least harm, including pain and distress, to the animals

iv. Be performed competently, and by a person who is competent for the procedures, or under the direct supervision of a person who is competent to perform the procedures

2. Fish wellbeing must be supported and safeguarded by using capture methods, techniques and equipment that are appropriate for the species and the situation, and the purpose and aims of the project or activity

3. To minimize the risk of injury or stress-induced disease, procedures for the capture and handling must include:

i. The involvement of a sufficient number of competent people to restrain animals and prevent injury to animals and handlers

ii. Restraint and handling of animals for the minimum time needed to achieve the BCT implantation

Release of wild-caught ensure that:

4. Release occurs at the site of capture to the extent practicable,

5. Animals are protected from injury and predation at the time of their release,

6. Animals that have been sedated or anesthetized have recovered to full consciousness before their release. During their recovery, animals should be held in an appropriate area where they can maintain normal body temperature and are protected from injury and predation

BCT devices

7. the weight, design and positioning of attached devices must minimize interference with the normal survival requirements of the animal

Humane killing

8. The method and procedures used for killing (if necessary) must be humane and:

i. Avoid pain or distress and produce rapid loss of consciousness until death occurs

ii. Be appropriate to the species, age, developmental stage and health of the animal

iii. Require minimum restraint of the animal

iv. Be reliable, reproducible and irreversible

v. Ensure that death is established before disposal of the animal

Use of anesthetics, analgesics and sedatives

9. Consider the duration of the proposed procedures and balance the potential the increase in total time in distress (i.e., total handling time) associated with the use of chemical anesthesia versus the infliction of pain in fish from application of alternative methods such tonic immobility

10. When anesthetics, analgesics and sedatives are used, the choice of agent and its administration must:

i. Be appropriate for the species, age, developmental stage and physiological status of the animal

ii. Be compatible with the purpose and aims of the project or activity, and appropriate for the type of procedure

11. Regardless of their mechanism of action, the effectiveness of all anesthetics must be monitored throughout anesthesia

12. When general anesthesia is used, procedures must conform with current veterinary or medical practice and ensure that:

i. Induction is smooth, with minimum distress to the animal

ii. The animal and the effectiveness of the anesthetic are monitored to maintain an adequate plane of anesthesia, minimize physiological disturbances, and monitor and manage potential complications (e.g., cardiovascular and respiratory depression)

iii. When an animal is to recover from an anesthetic, the animal is monitored and cared for to avoid and manage complications during the post-anesthetic period (e.g., injury from uncoordinated movements or other animals)

iv. Records are maintained of the use of anesthetics and other drugs, monitoring of the animal, and the management of complications

13. Animals that develop signs of pain and distress must be treated promptly, in accordance with the intervention points and humane endpoints

Surgical procedures

14. The wellbeing of wild-caught tuna that have undergone surgical procedures must be supported and safeguarded by:

i. Using aseptic procedures if the animal is expected to recover from surgery

ii. Ensuring that all procedures conform to accepted standards in veterinary or medical practice, as appropriate for the procedure and circumstances

iii. Ensuring that potential complications during and after the procedure are avoided or minimized, that animals are monitored for complications, and that any complications that do occur are effectively managed

iv. Ensuring that pain management that is appropriate for the species and the procedure is effective

15. After any procedure:

i. To the extent possible fish should be monitored and assessed with sufficient frequency to ensure that both predicted and unforeseen consequences are detected early

ii. Prompt action must be taken so that predicted and unforeseen consequences, including pain and distress, are addressed rapidly and effectively

iii. Appropriate records must be maintained and made accessible to all people involved in the post-procedural care of the animal