PAS-C

The COST Action FA1301 CephsInAction is launching the Prospective Assessment of Severity Survey aimed to contribute, through the application of a Delphi method, towards the development of a consensus on the prospective severity classification of a procedure as applicable to studies carried out with cephalopod molluscs.

The inclusion of live cephalopods (from hatchlings to adults) in Directive 2010/63/EU and related national legislations covering the “protection of animals used in for scientific purposes” requires a series of important steps and approaches that urge consensus among researchers. Similarly to what already carried out by colleagues in providing guidance on the severity classification of scientific procedures involving fish, we aim to achieve a broad consensus on severity assessment of procedures as applied to cephalopods. Differently from the analogous work on fishes, we aim to use a survey approach (i.e. Delphic) to seek the opinions of a wider and more diverse group, as well as providing more objective data. The survey is aimed to include responses of people with a range of expertise (e.g. senior and junior cephalopod researchers, including students from the CBC Training Schools, veterinarians, regulators, animal welfare experts). Representatives of the various groups will be approached via our FA1301 COST Action channels of communication.

The final results will be presented at the Annual FA1301 meeting in Lisbon (Portugal) next November 2015 and published in a dedicated paper.

You are urged to participate as CephsInAction is only able to achieve its objectives by active participation of its members and contributors in the various Working Groups.

CephsInAction Prospective Assessment of Severity Survey is a milestone of FA1301-WG4