European Zebrafish Meeting 2015 Husbandry Session Report

Area of Science:

• Comparative Medicine
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Aquatic Animal Models

Background:

• Current husbandry practices for aquatic research species like zebrafish and medaka exhibit significant diversity.
• This diversity poses challenges for standardization and reproducibility in biomedical research.
• Addressing animal welfare is a critical component of ethical and effective scientific investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To convene a workshop focused on husbandry and animal welfare for aquatic research models.
• To identify and discuss problems arising from varied husbandry practices.
• To explore efforts towards establishing common husbandry and animal welfare standards globally.

Main Methods:

• A dedicated workshop was held during the 9th European Zebrafish Meeting in Oslo, Norway.
• Presentations were delivered by international contributors from various countries.
• Discussions covered a range of topics including proposed guidelines, facility standards, cryopreservation, and feeding strategies.

Main Results:

• The workshop was well-attended, indicating strong community interest in the topic.
• Key issues stemming from diverse husbandry practices were highlighted.
• International perspectives on developing common standards were shared, involving zebrafish and medaka.

Conclusions:

• There is a clear and strong desire within the aquatic research community to develop common husbandry standards.
• Harmonizing practices will enhance animal welfare and research quality.
• Continued international collaboration is essential for establishing global standards.