With the rapid expansion of aquaculture and ownership of a wide variety of animal species worldwide, the well-being and welfare of these species has recently gained a great deal of attention.
As most of these species are poikilothermic vertebrates and invertebrates, they present unique issues. Furthermore, commercial aquaculture producers and industries providing farmed seafood for the global market appear to be generally naïve to what is evolving about animal well-being, welfare, and the humane treatment of all aquatic animals.
As the veterinary profession is being looked to for contributions in filling the knowledge gaps in the practice of aquatic animal health, this presentation will outline some of these issues and relate them to approaches commonly used in addressing the well-being and welfare. Comments about pain in invertebrates will also be presented.