Filter content

by selecting applicable filters below

System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 4.1.2.23

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP considers crowding activities with the intent to prevent stress, injury and mortality. Crowding activities shall be carried out: – under supervision; and – gradually; and – partially; and – for a maximum of two hours. An exception applies where a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional demonstrates that exceeding two hours of crowding does not negatively impact cleaner fish welfare, in which case the maximum time period shall be defined by the registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Prior to the crowding activity, the impacts of the cleaner fish should be discussed and an action plan developed to ensure the cleaner fish are handled appropriately.

    • This may include moving the hides or refuges to one side of the net prior to the crowding.

  • This clause overlaps with Indicator 4.2.1.7 regarding fish. Please refer to Indicator 4.2.1.7 for a detailed description.

Indicator 4.1.2.22

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a fitness assessment of the cleaner fish prior to handling activities,7272An exemption applies to handling activities related to health examinations (e.g. health assessment, parasite counting) and in the case of emergencies (e.g. containment of an escape). approved by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. For the specific handling activities listed below, the fitness assessment shall be carried out: – within a two-week period prior to transport or treatment that requires handling of the cleaner fish, except when the same type of treatment is repeated, in which case the assessment shall be carried out at least once a month after the initial treatment; – within a two-week period prior to net change and passive grading. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This clause overlaps with Indicator 4.2.1.4 regarding fish. Please refer to Indicator 4.2.1.4 for a detailed description.

Indicator 4.1.2.21

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP, following consultation with a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional, considers the use of anaesthesia during handling activities.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.2.20

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes consideration of the environmental conditions associated with handling activities, with the intent of preventing handling under adverse conditions that could affect the health and welfare of the cleaner fish. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This clause overlaps with Indicator 4.2.1.4 regarding fish. Please refer to Indicator 4.2.1.4 for a detailed description.

Indicator 4.1.2.19

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes contingency plans for handling activities, including at least the following: a) immediate response measures in the case of system failure; and b) humane culling response measures (see Indicator 4.1.3.9); and c) mass mortality event response measures. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Indicator 4.1.2.15

Requirement

The UoC shall adhere to a limit of 15 seconds maximum time out of water.7474An exemption applies to anaesthetised fish and pangasius (due to its ability to breathe air facultatively).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Fasting duration:

    • Calculation in degree days provides a more precise indication of fish metabolic activity because it incorporates time and temperature, which better reflect the biological processes, and provides a standardised metric across different locations and time periods.

    • The concept of degree days involves accumulating the average daily temperature over a period of time, i.e. 3 days at an average daily temperature of 19 °C, are 57-degree days.

    • In the case of exceptional situations (see requirement footnote) the length of fasting would be linked to the duration of the event rather than a pre-set timing or veterinarian or aquatic health professional rationale.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records confirming the required parameter and their conformance with minimum/maximum value.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established minimum/maximum fasting time.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The minimum/maximum time fasting time is included in the HMP and incorporates considerations related to intrinsic factors and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.1.2.14

Requirement

Indicator 4.1.2.13

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes acclimatisation measures to prevent sudden changes in water conditions affecting the health and welfare status of the fish.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Standardised acclimatisation measures should be designed and maintained, e.g.:

    • Water temperature during transportation must be as close as possible to that which the fish came from.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Standard acclimatisation measures and monitoring of the water quality according to the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of acclimatisation parameters before stocking.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the acclimatisation measures and monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The acclimatisation measures included in the HMP incorporate the minimum required elements and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.2.12

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a post-handling evaluation process that considers at least the following: a) abnormal behaviour; and, b) morphological scores; and, c) moribund animals and mortalities.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Abnormal behaviour related to the handling should be recorded.

  • During and post-handling moribund fish and mortalities related to the handling should be recorded and removed.

  • Moribund fish should be collected and culled following responsible stunning and killing according to Criterion 4.1.3.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Behavioural monitoring.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the behaviour, moribund and mortalities during and post-handling.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established behavioural and mortality monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The behavioural monitoring process included in the HMP incorporates the minimum required elements and it is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.2.11

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a visual inspection process to identify abnormal behaviour in relation to the handling activity and defines mitigation measures when identified.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Visual inspection during handling should be included in the HMP.

    • When direct visual inspections are not possible (e.g. pangasius transportation) or considered invasive (e.g. during live fish transport inside a well), cameras can be used. Alternatively, fish behaviour can be assessed when loading and discharging the fish as a minimum requirement.

Evidence of Implementation

  • The monitoring process, that incorporates the corrective actions required, included in the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the behaviour.

    • A checked box on the monitoring records indicating whether monitoring behavioural took place or not is accepted.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established behavioural monitoring process.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The monitoring process included in the HMP that incorporates the corrective actions and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources