Humane Harvesting Initiative: The Influence of Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Practices on Fish Welfare and Product Quality

Abstract

Volume 6 • Issue 2 • 1000303 J Aquac Res Development ISSN: 2155-9546 JARD, an open access journal and which have the least impact on product quality. Recently, Blue North Inc. installed a new technology on longliners which is percussive followed by immediate bleeding, decreasing the time between harvesting and processing. This humane practice increases the quality of the fish, can prevent gaping and reduce lactic acid production in the muscle. Bleeding is a widely recognized method for improving fish quality by improving color, physical appearance, and decreasing lipid oxidation. Humane practices clearly provide benefit and should be widely adopted both by fishers and aquaculturists as best practices. are handled and stunned in this area within seconds, thus reducing the risk of injury and bruising. Key to post-harvesting handling is time. Blue North has developed the most humane method available for its fishery by keeping the time between harvesting and slaughtering as short as possible and involving a stunning step immediately as the fish are landed. Several methods have been studied and applied by industry including asphyxiation, asphyxiation in ice, bleeding when fish are conscious, percussive stunning, spiking and electrical stunning. The best methods are ones that are most effective for a particular specie Citation: Rasco B, Down K, Ovissipour M (2015) Humane Harvesting Initiative: The Influence of Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Practices on Fish Welfare and Product Quality. J Aquac Res Development 6: 303.