Stress response according to transport protocol in Norway lobster, <i>Nephrops norvegicus</i>

Abstract

Abstract. The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, is a valuable and commonly exported European decapod crustacean, which experiences stress from point of capture and onward transport. Stressors such as air exposure duration (i.e. emersion period) and air temperature have been studied previously. We investigated whether mortality could be reduced by decreasing road vibrations during transport, and how physiological stress measurements were influenced in a transport simulation experiment, reflecting a typical short road journey along a supply chain. Baseline haemolymph samples were taken from lobsters sampled immediately after commercial capture using static traps (lobster pots). Individuals were emersed for one hour, either immobile or with continuous shaking; the latter to simulate conditions occurring during transport. Both treatments significantly increased Total Haemocyte Counts (THC) and serum glucose, lactate and ammonium concentrations compared to baseline animals. Individuals subjected to continuous shaking showed higher glucose and ammonium concentrations compared to individuals maintained immobile. We conclude that shaking appears to influence the physiological responses of N. norvegicus in addition to the effects of emersion alone, and the reduction of road vibrations (e.g. via simple cushioning) can reduce post-transport mortality.

Evaluation of the marketing methods and handling of live shellfish (American lobsters) for the purpose of sale as food: First evaluations in Piedmont, Italy

“…Crabs were packaged in crates hold in cool (2-10°C). This position has been recently reported as stressful for other crustacean (Powell et al , 2017 ). For all these reasons recent studies stressed out that it could be important in addition to temperature control, as stated above, for the welfare during transportation to assess vulnerability test prior transport by checking some haemolymph parameters (THC, electrolytes as calcium, potassium and magnesium, metabolites as cholesterol, glucose and lactate, enzymes as amylase, alanine and aspartate) instead of behavior traits like tail flips and reflex response (Simon et al , 2016 ).…”

“…National Aquaculture Council Australia, 2008) or referenced opinion (Candotti, 2007 ; Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty on Animals UK, RSPCA UK, 2008 ; RSPCA AU, 2016) have been issued on aquatic animal welfare, including live holding and slaughter. For example correct procedures must be used whilst handling the animals till the final destination (consumers) to avoid broken limbs or opportunistic bacterial infections induced by stress, rough handling, etc (Powell et al , 2017 ) as well as to ensure animal welfare (Horvath et al , 2013 , Simon et al , 2016 , Tirloni et al , 2016 ).…”

Use of reflex indicators for measuring vitality and mortality of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio ) in captivity

“…A Spearman rank correlation test comparing air exposure time with mean reflex index score (RIS) was performed. Based on the previous use of lactate as a stress indicator in crustaceans (Lehtonen & Burnett, ; Powell, Cowing, Eriksson, & Johnson, and references therein), this was used to corroborate the use of reflex index as an indicator of vitality, assuming that higher levels of lactate will correspond to individuals with lower reflex index (low vitality). The crabs were divided in groups using reflex index as a grouping variable: group 1 (reflex index = 0), group 2 (from 1 to 2), group 3 (3 to 4) and group 5 (5 to 6).…”

REDUÇÃO DA MORTALIDADE DE Dilocarcinus pagei DURANTE O ARMAZENAMENTO IN LOCO, NO PANTANAL DE PORTO MURTINHO, BRASIL

“…Sabe-se que os procedimentos adotados posteriormente à captura, como o armazenamento e o transporte, são fundamentais para a sobrevivência dos animais (Barrento et al 2011). Assim, a mortalidade de D. pagei, possivelmente, está relacionada ao estresse ocasionado pelo manuseio no momento da captura (Hunter & Uglow 1993, Jacklin & Combes 2007, bem como ao estresse térmico durante o armazenamento in loco (Rajendiran et al 2016, Powell et al 2017.…”

“…O manejo e armazenamento durante a captura de espécimes podem desencadear diversas respostas fisiológicas dos animais em consequência ao estresse sofrido, como, por exemplo, o aumento do cortisol plasmático (Barton et al 2000, Jentoft et al 2005 e do hormônio hiperglicêmico (Lorenzon et al 2005). Dentre os processos considerados como maiores fontes estressoras, estão a manipulação inadequada (Hunter & Uglow 1993), armazenamento dos animais em alta densidade (Jacklin & Combes 2007, Barrento et al 2011) e a temperatura (Rajendiran et al 2016, Powell et al 2017, Ariyati et al 2018, Azra 2018, sendo esta considerada uma das maiores causas de mortalidade durante o armazenamento in loco (Yuan et al 2017). Para reduzir o estresse durante o armazenamento de D. pagei, os isqueiros da região de Tarumã utilizam somente folhas e caules de macrófitas aquáticas da região de captura.…”