Ethics Guidelines

Introduction

The Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee (AAEC)

The Composition of the Committee

The composition of the Committee is as laid down by the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (Section 2.2.2) and comprises a person with substantial recent experience in animal experimentation, a veterinarian, a person with a demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, an independent member of the wider community, the Chief Scientist of the Australian Antarctic Division, a representative from the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Secretariat support is provided by the Australian Antarctic Division.

Terms of Reference

The following Terms of Reference, which are based on the 'Australian Code of Practice' for such committees, have been agreed to by the Minister:

develop and maintain a set of guidelines in respect of ionising radiation and animal experimentation and welfare in Antarctica including the consideration, where feasible, of alternatives to the use of live animals in experimentation;
examine written proposals relevant to the use of animals in experiments and the use of ionising radiation and approve only those experiments which conform to the requirements of these guidelines, taking into consideration ethical aspects as well as scientific or educational merit;
maintain a register of approved experimental proposals, including a description of techniques and the names of those using animals and ionising radiation for experimental purposes;
ensure that all experimenters maintain adequate records of animal and radiation usage and provide reports to the AAEC; and
ensure that the requirements of all relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation are met.

A further objective of the Committee is to encourage the development of safer and less stressful techniques to be used with Antarctic species.

Scope of the Guidelines

The guidelines laid down in this booklet cover only those life forms defined in the Committee's Terms of Reference as 'fish, birds and mammals'. The guidelines will, however, cover all proposals involving the use of ionising radiation.

Research proposals involving human experimentation fall outside the scope of these guidelines but will be assessed by the ANARE Human Experimentation Ethics Committee, email med_laser@aad.gov.au

Revision of the Guidelines

These guidelines are reviewed each year. Field workers are urged to contact the Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee (AAEC) Secretary, c/- Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050 (telephone 03 6232 3531, fax 03 6232 3415) email aaec@aad.gov.au with suggestions for extensions and improvements for future editions.

Relationship to the Australian Code of Practice

Researchers are advised that the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes which was published by the National Health and Medical Research Council in September 1997, remains the paramount code under which all Australian animal research must be conducted. These AAEC guidelines should be regarded by researchers as a technical appendix to the Code. The Code can be obtained by writing to The Secretary, NH&MRC, GPO Box 9848, Canberra 2601, ACT. Internet: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research/awc/code.htm

Important Points When Preparing a Research Application

Researchers are reminded that the AAEC was established as a result of expressions of public concern at certain aspects of some projects conducted by researchers. The AAEC thus fulfils an important public purpose and exercises significant control over those projects which fall within its purview. Accordingly researchers are encouraged to take into account these considerations when they are completing the appropriate questions of the Antarctic Research Application forms..

This information is crucial to facilitate smooth assessment of the application by the AAEC. A few general points need elaboration in this regard:

When preparing a project proposal the breeding status of the population should be noted, and reference to this should be made in the proposal.
Care should be taken to ensure that sample sizes are the minimum needed to provide statistical validity.
Care should be taken to incorporate possible seasonal effects on the population under study.
In accordance with the general principle of reducing stress to wild animals, applicants are encouraged, as far as possible, to use populations which are in the vicinity of stations or field bases and which have some familiarity with humans.
Researchers must provide full details such as the numbers of animals, or quantities of isotopes (including activity rates) proposed to be used.

The AAEC will look for evidence in applications of attempts having been made to reduce the number of animals to be used in the project, to replace animal experimentation with cellular experimentation, and to refine field practices in order to minimise pain and distress as far as the objective of the project will allow. Researchers should balance the pain and distress to which an animal may be subjected against the scientific benefit resulting from the investigation.

Researchers are reminded that the information provided by them will be used to frame the necessary permits required under Commonwealth and Tasmanian legislation. Accordingly, incorrect, insufficient or ambiguous information could lead to errors occurring in the permit process and this could result in breach of the legislation occurring once the project is underway.

Please note that in accordance with the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act 1993, the Australian Antarctic Division holds a licence, on behalf of ANARE, to conduct animal research in Tasmania and at Macquarie Island. Under this legislation, an inspector of animal research is allowed to inspect the research activities of ANARE at Kingston, Macquarie Island and on any vessel in Tasmanian waters chartered by ANARE.

Researchers should note that they are required, as a condition of the approval process for their research, to provide suitable information for other expeditioners on the impacts of, and reasons for, their proposed animal research. This information could be by way of ship/station-based lectures, distribution of information sheets etc.

(ASP&C)
May 2002

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