Ethics and Welfare in invertebrates: a stepping-stone to echinoderm research and aquaculture

AUGUSTO CÉSAR CRESPI ABRIL; RUBILAR, TAMARA

Congreso; Congreso Latinoamericano de Equinodermos; 2022

Even though only a few species are considered dangerous, pests or vectors, mostinvertebrates produce a feeling of aversion in humans. This has contributed to thedelay in developing ethical considerations regarding this group in contrast withvertebrates, except for cephalopods. In the present study, we provide an overviewof the current situation on animal ethics and welfare in order to contribute to thedevelopment of a framework for ensuring invertebrate welfare. Today, animalwelfare is multidisciplinary to a very high degree as it includes ethology,physiology, pathology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, nutrition, cognitiveneural,veterinary medicine, and ethics. Therefore, animal welfare is a complexconcept, and it is not easy to achieve success from one perspective. As aconsequence, we propose to include the five domains (Nutrition, Environment,Health, Behaviour, and Mental State) along with the three conceptions (BasicHealth and Functioning, Affective State, and Natural Living), as well as the 5RPrinciple (Replace, Reduction, Refinement, Respect, and Responsibility) in seekingto achieve a comprehensive welfare state. We consider that in both research andanimal production, the individual and collective ethical concerns coexist and theprimary moral concern to account for is the collective one. Furthermore, withinthat collective view, the individual moral concern should be applied withresponsibility and respect for the individual. Finally, we propose a practicalexample of invertebrate welfare production in sea urchin aquaculture, intending toinclude animal production of invertebrates in this important discussion.