HOW FISH HAVE BEEN USED IN NZ
Fish were the single most used species for science in 2020.1 Most were used in basic biological research (the study of living things and their processes) and were also used in animal husbandry research, species conservation, and more.
Why so many fish are used:
Most fish have a very short reproductive cycle, meaning they can be bred quickly, they also don't generally cost much to breed or house, making them desirable test subjects in science.
Zebrafish are regularly used as animal models for human development. A single pair of zebrafish can produce 100 to 300 embryos in one week. Zebrafish embryos are transparent and have their whole “body plan” laid down only 2 days after fertilisation. The similarity between human and zebrafish genomes is often cited as a reason to use them in models.2
Snapper3, eels4 and other fish that are eaten5 are also regularly used in science because of their importance to the commercial fishery. This industry will always be looking for ways to maximise its profits.4
Many fish living in the wild are studied as a way to research Climate Change.
Fish in NZ have been used to:
- Try and optimise the growth and use of fish for human consumption, including research into:
- optimal feeding
- genes responsible for body size and growth speed
- testing environmental influences and impacts (i.e. how salmon farms affect surrounding ecosystems)
- how toxins accumulate in fish organs (i.e. algae toxins, mercury)
- finding treatments/vaccines for illnesses and injuries from aquaculture
- fish’s life cycle to try and maximise reproduction
- For teaching purposes in schools, including observational activities and dissections.
- To try and model humans, examples include:
- fish larvae have been used to try and model human immunity
- fish embryos have been used to try and study human foetal development
- genetically manipulated fish have been used to try and study adipostasis and glucose metabolism
- For basic research into fish biology, including research into:
- how sharks sleep
- how hearing develops in fish
- microbes inside fish stomachs
- the spread of viruses in wild fish
- schooling behaviour
- Study the effects of Climate Change, including research into:
- marine food webs
- biodiversity changes
- species behaviour and interactions
- predator abundance
- measuring the genetic reactions to stress
- investigating the effects of herbicides on fish behaviour
- how well Arctic fish do at higher temperatures
- Species conservation, including research into:
- the efficiency of removing koi carb, catfish, rudd, and goldfish
- the efficiency of one-way barriers on lake outflow
- testing “fish-friendly” flood pumps (i.e. for eels)
- finding out where wild fish breed the most (to see which areas are worth protecting)
- optimising catching/tagging methods for re-capture projects
Due to the high level of secrecy that this industry has, this is not a comprehensive list. For more details and referenced examples of how fish are used, see the case studies section at the bottom of this page.
High impact studies
Every year, the NZ Government reports on the use of animals for science that was rated as high or very high impact (i.e. cause the most harm or stress to the animals involved). Those are either very severe, very long in duration, or both.
In 2020, 404 fish were used in high-impact studies:
- Five fish captured using a spear gun did not immediately die and had to be killed with another method (via pithing/inserting a sharp object into their brains).
- Because of an adverse event that wasn’t further detailed, 234 juvenile snappers had to be killed.
- Yellowtail kingfish, 165 in total, were part of an experiment where flow probes were inserted to measure heart rate and cardiac output for 24 hours. They were killed afterwards.
In 2019, 660 fish were used in high-impact studies:
- Fish that died under a standard test that measures toxic effects were graded as high impact.
- Fish were used in a trial looking at the effect of predator threat on small snapper. The fish graded as high impact died as a result of a disease.
- One fish died due to a disease event.
- Migrating eels were captured to obtain fertilised eggs.
- Fish trapping led to the death of 84 bignose galaxiaz (out of 2,677 captured), probably due to low overnight dissolved oxygen levels (in other words, they suffocated).
- Fish were experimented on using sleep deprivation.
- Fish were left in containers on the seafloor for 2-3 hours, a process that is likely to be stressful.
- Fish captured using a spear gun did not immediately die and had to be killed with another method.
- Fish were reported with an impact grading D as they were transported for 2-6 hours and underwent breathing tests of up to 48 hours.
Overview
How fish were used for science in NZ: |
Purpose |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Basic biological research |
36,307 |
33,047 |
30,843 |
Veterinary research |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Teaching |
6,485 |
1,744 |
2134 |
Animal husbandry research |
707 |
13,267 |
8,775 |
Medical research |
686 |
1,029 |
852 |
Testing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Environmental management |
2,174 |
1,706 |
651 |
Species conservation |
4,408 |
3,315 |
12,665 |
Production of biological agents |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Development of alternatives |
0 |
0 |
|
Producing offspring with compromised welfare |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other |
5,159 |
0 |
0 |
Total number used |
55,926 |
54,108 |
56,045 |
Animals killed |
22,416 |
20,466 |
30,255 |
Animals killed that were bred but not used |
NA |
27,518 |
20,255 |
Total number including those bred and killed but weren't used |
NA |
81,626 |
76,300 |
The figures in the table above were provided by MPI.
Where fish have been used
Fish are used for science by universities, crown research institutes, polytechnics, commercial organisations and others. The University of Otago for example has its own Zebrafish Facility. The MPI naturally has a research interest in fisheries and ecosystems. As a crown research institute, NIWA’s research in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries, and the Antarctic is funded by the government. Cawthron Aquaculture Park is home to a dedicated Finfish Research Centre (FRC), which opened in 2018 with funding support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Find out more.
Where fish have been sourced from
Fish used in science are sourced from breeding units, fish farms, commercial sources, and public sources, are born during projects or are captured in the wild. Find out more.
Take action!
-
Learn about the many ways that you can help end animal experimentation.
Further reading
- Return to the main Case Studies page.
- Learn about the alternatives and replacement methods that can be used instead of animals.
- Read about why animal testing is both ethically and scientifically flawed.
References
- https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/51508-Statistics-on-the-Use-of-Animals-in-Research-Testing-and-Teaching-in-New-Zealand-in-2020
- https://www.otago.ac.nz/zebrafish/zebrafish/useinresearch.html
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2014.892013
- https://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/1237/jellyman-report-final2.pdf
- https://www.mpi.govt.nz/science/fisheries-research-and-science/fisheries-research-processes/