Defending and refining the Birch et al. (2021) precautionary framework for animal sentience

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Neuroethology
• Precautionary Principle

Background:

• Avoiding gratuitous suffering is a widely accepted ethical principle.
• Assessing risks of suffering, especially in invertebrates, requires clear frameworks.
• The Birch et al. (2021) framework uses neurobiological and behavioral criteria for invertebrate sentience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a new justification for the threshold approach in invertebrate welfare assessment.
• To suggest revisions to the Birch et al. framework.
• To reduce false positives in identifying invertebrate sentience without compromising precautionary goals.

Main Methods:

• Review and discussion of the Birch et al. (2021) framework.
• Analysis of neurobiological and behavioral criteria for sentience.
• Exploration of potential revisions to mitigate false positives.

Main Results:

• The threshold approach for invertebrate welfare is valuable.
• Revisions can enhance the accuracy of the Birch et al. framework.
• Balancing precaution and precision in sentience assessment is achievable.

Conclusions:

• The Birch et al. framework offers a basis for invertebrate welfare action.
• Refinements can improve the framework's reliability.
• Evidence-based approaches are crucial for advancing invertebrate welfare ethics.