Animal Welfare Statement

At the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, the welfare of the animals in our care is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring that all animals live enriched, healthy, and meaningful lives through science-based care practices guided by the Five Domains of Animal Welfare: Nutrition, Physical Environment, Health, Behaviour, and Mental State. Additionally, we view our animal husbandry practices through a holistic lens with the understanding that the habitats within the Centre are an extension of the Salish Sea Bioregion

The Five Domains of Animal Welfare

1. Nutrition
We provide species-appropriate diets that meet the nutritional needs of the animals in our care. Our animal diets are sourced primarily from British Columbia. Our feeding programs are designed and regularly reviewed by experienced aquarists.

2. Physical Environment
Our habitats are thoughtfully designed to replicate the animals’ natural environments as closely as possible. We strive to provide species appropriate water parameters, lighting that corresponds to seasonal variations, and habitats that the animals can interact with in a natural way.

3. Health
Preventive health care, regular veterinary assessments, and daily observations are essential components of our animal health program. We maintain high standards of cleanliness and biosecurity in the facility. Our animal care team consists of marine biologists, a Registered Veterinary Technician and two on-call Veterinarians who are able to respond promptly to any animal health concerns and provide appropriate medical care. 

4. Behaviour
We promote and support natural behaviors through environmental enrichment, dietary enrichment and social opportunities. By enabling choice and control within their environments, we allow animals to express their natural behaviours. 

5. Mental State
We recognize that animals experience a wide range of emotions.  Our approach ensures that each animal’s mental wellbeing is considered alongside its physical care. Through environmental and social enrichment, we strive to foster a positive mental state for all animals in our care.

Sourcing animals

When acquiring animals, we take every precaution to reduce our impact on wild populations. The acquisition of animals is prioritized as follows:

           1. Aquarium raised animals

           2. Rehoming surplus animals from credible institutions

           3. By-catch from commercial and recreational fisheries

           4. Collected from the ocean/wild caught

The animal care team is responsible for upholding the standards of animal welfare. They include a highly experienced team of Marine Biologists, a Registered Veterinary Technician, and a designated Veterinarian.

We are committed to continuous improvement and regularly review our practices in light of the latest scientific research and ethical standards. The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea aims to be a leader in the field of animal welfare and inspire others to care deeply for aquatic life.

Questions and concerns

If you have questions or concerns about a specific animal, habitat or how our Centre cares for the animals, please contact Kit Thornton, Veterinary Care specialist at kit.thornton@salishseacentre.org