Latest news with #rainbowtrout
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Fish feel PAIN just like humans, scientists say - as they call for common slaughter method to be halted immediately
From fish and chips to fish pie, many British staples focus on seafood. But a new study might make you think twice before ordering one of these popular dishes. Scientists have revealed the hidden pain that fish go through during a common slaughter method known as 'air asphyxia'. This method involves allowing fish to suffocate in air or on ice - and can often take well over an hour. In their study, researchers from the Welfare Footprint Institute found that the average rainbow trout endures 10 minutes of 'intense pain' during air asphyxia. Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for air asphyxia to be banned, and for 'stunning' methods to be used instead. 'Pain and distress from asphyxia in fish can be potentially mitigated by stunning methods that induce rapid loss of consciousness,' they wrote in their study. 'For stunning to be considered humane and effective, pre-slaughter handling must be minimised and the animal must become unconscious immediately after stunning, a state that must persist until death.' Every year, up to 2.2 trillion wild and 171 billion farmed fish are killed, according to the researchers. However, several traditional methods of killing these fish are inhumane. 'Farmed fish are still commonly killed by asphyxiation (suffocation by taking them out of water), exposure to carbon dioxide, exposure to very low temperatures or bleeding without stunning,' the RSPCA explains. 'These procedures take several minutes to induce insensibility and cannot be regarded as humane.' In their study, the team set out to understand exactly how fish react to air asphyxia. Focusing on rainbow trout, the team found that during air asphyxia, fish experience anything between two and 22 minutes of 'intense pain', depending on factors like fish size and water temperature. This translates to around 24 minutes of pain per kilogram of fish, according to the experts. In contrast, 'stunning' methods are immediate, meaning the fish don't suffer. 'Electrical and percussive stunning methods for fish are now becoming more common,' the RSPCA explained. 'These include water-bath stunning systems where fish pass through electrified water to stun them, and percussive stunning of fish using automated flow-through systems where fish remain in water until the point of stunning. 'These systems remove the need for pre-slaughter handling of fish and allow fish to be effectively stunned prior to being bled out.' While you might think that these methods would be more expensive, the researchers say that this isn't the case. 'If implemented properly, electrical stunning could avert 60 to 1,200 minutes of moderate to extreme pain for every U.S. dollar of capital cost,' they explained.
CBC
17-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. wildlife group concerned about risk to rainbow trout from wind farm project
B.C. Wildlife Federation worried planned wind farm in Interior could harm rainbow trout Image | Wind turbine Caption: Proposed legislation to exempt wind farm projects from environmental assessments in B.C. is cause for concern, according to a wildlife group. (Kyle Bakx/CBC) A B.C. wildlife non-profit is concerned new government exemptions on wind projects from environmental review processes could favour speed over the protection of rainbow trout as plans ramp up for a new wind farm in the Interior. B.C. Hydro recently awarded a contract to Westbank First Nation and Innergex Renewable Energy for the K2 Wind project in the Pennask Mountain area, about 40 kilometres west of Kelowna. The B.C. government plans to exempt wind projects from certain environmental assessment processes to make it faster to build renewable energy projects. But the B.C. Wildlife Federation is worried that, without a standard process, the government might not put a "proper microscope" on the project. "When you're trying to do things fast, you don't always get them right," said Jesse Zeman, executive director of the non-profit. LISTEN | Zeman talks environmental assessments Zeman said the project is planned in a drainage area that is "extremely important" for wild rainbow trout in Pennask Lake, home to brood stock for trout hatcheries since 1927. He said a previous nearby highway project had created problems with rocks leaching acid into the Pennask watershed. "We're always way better off preventing these kinds of things than we are having to treat them after the fact." Environmental reviews consolidated Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie said the new government regulations won't eliminate environmental reviews but rather consolidate permitting under the B.C. Energy Regulator. He said the process is now more streamlined, without needing cross-ministry approvals. "I think the misunderstanding, perhaps, is that many, perhaps, think that there will be no environmental reviews at all — which is totally false," Louie said. Westbank First Nation also has its own oversight process, including archeological and environmental reviews. "We're not going to be shy of the experts, and then having our traditional cultural advisers also a part of this is very, very important," Louie said. "The need for alternative power is so great that we can't afford to have inefficiency," he added. What is the new legislation? Zeman said he was pleased to hear Louie's comments, but added, "The issue is process." The NDP's Bill 14, which is still going through the legislative process, would authorize the energy regulator to create a new permitting framework for renewable energy projects, similar to energy resource activities such as oil, gas and hydrogen. "The BCER can uphold environmental protections while expediting timelines for projects to be built, rather than the three to five years it can take for the environmental assessment process," said Energy Minister Adrian Dix in an emailed statement. Dix said the BCER ensures wildlife is protected through planning tools, oversight and "end of life restoration." It also ensures permits are consistent with regulations under the Energy Resource Activities Act, according to Dix. Wind farm benefits Louie said the K2 Wind project has immense benefits. "I think it really exemplifies the economic reconciliation component of First Nations and government, and First Nations and industry," he said, noting the K2 Wind project will bring jobs, training and business opportunities. Westbank First Nation members will vote on the project in a referendum expected later this year. "We want to make sure our members are fully informed, fully aligned with what we're doing," Louie said. The wind farm is expected to be in service by 2031.
CBC
17-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. wildlife group concerned about risk to rainbow trout from wind farm project
Social Sharing A B.C. wildlife non-profit is concerned new government exemptions on wind projects from environmental review processes could favour speed over the protection of rainbow trout as plans ramp up for a new wind farm in the Interior. B.C. Hydro recently awarded a contract to Westbank First Nation and Innergex Renewable Energy for the K2 Wind project in the Pennask Mountain area, about 40 kilometres west of Kelowna. The B.C. government plans to exempt wind projects from certain environmental assessment processes to make it faster to build renewable energy projects. But the B.C. Wildlife Federation is worried that, without a standard process, the government might not put a "proper microscope" on the project. "When you're trying to do things fast, you don't always get them right," said Jesse Zeman, executive director of the non-profit. Zeman said the project is planned in a drainage area that is "extremely important" for wild rainbow trout in Pennask Lake, home to brood stock for trout hatcheries since 1927. He said a previous nearby highway project had created problems with rocks leaching acid into the Pennask watershed. "We're always way better off preventing these kinds of things than we are having to treat them after the fact." Environmental reviews consolidated Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie said the new government regulations won't eliminate environmental reviews but rather consolidate permitting under the B.C. Energy Regulator. He said the process is now more streamlined, without needing cross-ministry approvals. "I think the misunderstanding, perhaps, is that many, perhaps, think that there will be no environmental reviews at all — which is totally false," Louie said. Westbank First Nation also has its own oversight process, including archeological and environmental reviews. "We're not going to be shy of the experts, and then having our traditional cultural advisers also a part of this is very, very important," Louie said. "The need for alternative power is so great that we can't afford to have inefficiency," he added. What is the new legislation? Zeman said he was pleased to hear Louie's comments, but added, "The issue is process." The NDP's Bill 14, which is still going through the legislative process, would authorize the energy regulator to create a new permitting framework for renewable energy projects, similar to energy resource activities such as oil, gas and hydrogen. "The BCER can uphold environmental protections while expediting timelines for projects to be built, rather than the three to five years it can take for the environmental assessment process," said Energy Minister Adrian Dix in an emailed statement. Dix said the BCER ensures wildlife is protected through planning tools, oversight and "end of life restoration." It also ensures permits are consistent with regulations under the Energy Resource Activities Act, according to Dix. Wind farm benefits Louie said the K2 Wind project has immense benefits. "I think it really exemplifies the economic reconciliation component of First Nations and government, and First Nations and industry," he said, noting the K2 Wind project will bring jobs, training and business opportunities. Westbank First Nation members will vote on the project in a referendum expected later this year. "We want to make sure our members are fully informed, fully aligned with what we're doing," Louie said. The wind farm is expected to be in service by 2031.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Rainbow trout raised from eggs by elementary students released into stock pond
St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School students release rainbow trout into the Hermitage Park Stocked Trout Pond in Edmonton on May 15, 2025. (Darcy Seaton / CTV News Edmonton)
CBC
13-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Conservation group raises concerns about Pennask wind farm proposal
A conservation group is raising concerns about a large-scale wind farm project near Kelowna, that they say, could threaten a rainbow trout population used for stocking B.C. lakes. As Sohrab Sandhu reports, it's one of nine renewable energy projects exempted from the province's standard environmental assessment process.
