Ethics questionnaire for JFB

This questionnaire relates to the Editorial published in JFB 68, 1-2, which you have been asked to read. Please note that submitted manuscripts will only be considered if the experimental methods employed are ethically justified. PLEASE SUBMIT THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE WITH YOUR MANUSCRIPT ONLINE THROUGH EDITORIAL MANAGER.

Corresponding author’s name: __________________________________________

Question 1: If the fishes have been collected as part of faunal surveys, have the fishes, where feasible, been killed rapidly or returned to the wild after being held in aquaria? 

Yes 
No   

Question 2: What method was used if they were killed?

Question 3: If you have undertaken experimental work, has the care and use of experimental animals complied with local and or national animal welfare laws, guidelines and policies? 

Yes 
No  

If ‘Yes’, state these and provide suitable evidence (e.g. for the U.K. a Home Office PPL number is sufficient) that protocols have undergone an ethical review process by an institutional animal care and use (or similar) committee, a local ethics committee, or by appropriately qualified scientific and lay colleagues. 

Please read the exceptions below (Questions 4 to 7). If any of these exceptions apply to your study, complete the appropriate section. Otherwise leave blank.

If ‘No’, because these laws do not exist in your country, please state this.

Please read the exceptions below (Questions 4 to 7). If any of these exceptions apply to your study, complete the appropriate section. Otherwise leave blank.

Question 4: Did you use experimental conditions that severely distressed the animals? 

Yes 
No  

If ‘Yes’, state the conditions and how they can be justified.

Question 5: Did you use humane endpoints that minimized adverse effects? 

Yes 
No  

Question 6: Have you performed surgical procedures? 

Yes 
No  

If ‘Yes’, have you suitably described these in your manuscript? 

Question 7: If the procedures caused more than slight pain or distress, did you use appropriate sedation, analgesia and anaesthesia, with appropriate post-operative care? 

Yes 
No  

If ‘Yes’, outline these.

If ‘No’, did any of your procedures involve sentient, un-anaesthetized animals paralysed by chemical agents such as muscle relaxants? 

Yes  
No   

If ‘Yes’, provide details. Normally these procedures will be considered unacceptable by JFB.

If ‘No’, did any of the procedures, particularly those that involve lethal endpoints, cause adverse effects or lasting harm to a sentient animal? 

Yes 
No  

If ‘Yes’, provide details. Normally these procedures will be considered unacceptable by JFB unless any harm caused can be justified against the benefit gained.