7841

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7841
• Author: Nickum, J. G.
• Title: Guidelines for Use of Fishes in Field Research
• USFW Year: 1988
• USFW - Doc Type: Fisheries
• Copyright Material: YES

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Guidelines for Use of Fishes
in Field Research
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)
American Fisheries Society (AFS)
American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists (AIFRB)

Preface
John G. Nickum
The "Guidelines for Use of Fishes in Field Research"
that are reprinted here serve two purposes. They remind
all scientists and managers conducting field studies that
respect for life in all forms is a fundamental characteristic
of and obligation for all members of our profession.
Secondly, they provide guidance to Institutional Animal
Care and Usc Committees (IACUCs) in those institutions
and agencies where such committees are required.-
Conflicts concerning the appropriate use and treatment
of fishes, and other animals, have their roots in disparate
ethical beliefs. I suggest that our Society's position should
be that professional organizations and governmental
agencies deal with disputes~roncerning animal ethics!
animal rights/animal welfare as differences among hu-
mans with conflicting beliefs, not as human "rights" vs.
animal "rights." All animals "use" other forms of life in
various ways. "Rights" are human concepts that cannot
be applied uniformly and absolutely to all otl4e~r`'forms
of life. The basic tenets of conservation caution us to use
all resources wisely and with respect. The "Guidelines
for Use of Fishes in Field Research" suggest procedures
for use of fishes that arc founded on basic conservation
ethics, common sense, and good research design.
The need for field research guidelines resulted from
the 1985 amendment to the Animal Care Act that extended
the principles of laboratory animal care to field research.
All of the regulatory apparatus was already in place,
with special emphasis on a few mammals. When the
words "Field and" were added to the legislation, coverage
became vastly greater (even for mammalsj. The existing
laboratory care regulations were unworkable for field
research. The National Science Foundation then re-
quested assistance from professional organizations in
developing field guidelines for use by IACUCs.
The role and authority of IACUCs are very familiar to.
AFS members in academia, but to others.they may be
urkni~ivn. Fear of the unknown sptscifically another
int~,fiion into the way researchersriind managers do
bus2~tess has stimulated many questions. The material
that follows provides a brief~review of IACUCs and their
role concerning field research on fishes. Research pro-
posals submitted to the National Science- Foundation,
the National Institutes of Health, and the public Health
Service must be approved by the IACUC of the sponsoring
institution prior to submission to the funding agency.
The exact composition of IACUCs varies from :institution
to institution; however, a veterinarian must be incladed.
' :IACUCs also vary in their philosophical makeup. As a
result, standards for animal care and use have varied
considerably from one institution to another. Few IA-
CUCs have had members familiar with field research on
fishes. The "Guidelines for the Use of Fishes~in Field
Research" provides IACUCs with general standards and
alerts them to many of the special characteristic, of fish
and field research that require guidelines different from
t1iose developed- tor, rr~ammals and birds used i#i labo-
ratory research. There. is no requirement for IACUCs in
:: agencies or institutions"that do not receive funding from
the National Science Fgtindation, the National Institutes
of Health, or the Pubic Health Service. I believe the
American Fisheries Society should resisq strenuously any
attempt to require IACUC approval for;field activities of
state or federal resource. management jagencies or as a
prerequisite for receipt of federal aid funds.
The,fof4nat and content of the "Guidelines For Use of
..Fishes in. Field Research" provide as ni-uch consistency
as`possible with, guidelines for the use o~ other vertebrate
animals in field and laboratory situatidns. The present
version ha§ undergone substantial re iew and modifi-
cation by committees of the Ameriea~ Society of Ish-
thyologists and Herpetologists, the. American Institrite
of Fishery Research Biologists, and a committee repre-
senting-the AFS Sections most concerned with the issue.
The result=is aset of guidelines'ttiat d~o not credit ~shes_
with }~uman emotions and value systems, but do provide
reasonable guidance~;~ir scientists and managers con-
ducting Field research on fishes. .;The comments and
suggestions of all AFS members for improvements in
future versions of these guidelines are. requested.
Y.
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Fisheries, Vol. 13, No: 2
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