96. FAWC recognises the potential for poor welfare during the assisted breeding processes of stripping and milking but believes that during general management there is an economic pressure to ensure that the welfare of broodstock is good.
97. Female broodstock, usually kept for two or three winters at sea, are selected for breeding. They are generally removed from their sea cages into tanks of either freshwater or seawater approximately one month before stripping (extraction of eggs). These fish are closely monitored for ripeness. The monitoring comprises light sedation by administration of a controlled concentration of anaesthetic to facilitate handling and palpation of the abdomen to see if the egg mass is free. Some fish may undergo this process several times, usually two or three days apart. The main anaesthetics used are benzocaine (dissolved in a solution of acetone), phenoxyethanol and MS222.
98. Females which are found to be ready for stripping are anaesthetised by immersion in a tank containing anaesthetic solution. When fully anaesthetised, the fish are washed in clean water (to remove anaesthetic) before stripping. Stripping of anaesthetised fish may be solely by hand or with the assistance of compressed air introduced into the body cavity of the fish by means of a needle to ensure effective egg retrieval. Surgical removal of the ovaries is also occasionally employed.
99. Females are usually killed after stripping. This is normally achieved by a sharp blow to the head before recovery from the anaesthetic. A small minority of producers allow hen fish to recover after stripping so that they can be used again in subsequent years. However, because the time to regain body condition can be over a year, most farmers consider this uneconomic.
100. Male fish are generally anaesthetised before milking (extraction of milt), a process which may be repeated several times prior to slaughter. There is usually a recovery period of about three days between milkings. The male fish are normally killed in a similar way to the females. The broodstock carcasses are not suitable for human consumption because of the exposure to anaesthetic. The trade in salmon roe may become active in the UK, as it is elsewhere, in which case the treatment of the fish should not adversely affect their welfare, e.g. they should be killed before the roe is removed.
101. Personnel using anaesthetics for the purpose of stripping eggs and milt from fish should be trained and competent in their use and recognise the stages of anaesthesia in the fish. Written guidance should be followed where given by the manufacturer.