Neither Covered Nor Excluded: Impacts of Speciesism on Aquatic Animal Experimentation under the Animal Welfare Act

Authors

Sophia Pastorini

Author Details

Sophia Pastorini, J.D. candidate 2024, University of Miami School of Law.

First Page

211

Abstract

Despite significant scientific evidence affirming their capacity for pain and pleasure, aquatic animals in laboratory settings receive limited federal protection. The Animal Welfare Act leaves aquatic animals entirely adrift; they are neither included in the list of protected animals nor explicitly excluded. They inhabit a realm so marginalized that they are not even mentioned in the Act. The urgency of safeguarding aquatic animal welfare is a matter of moral imperative, scientific integrity, and justice. By employing a multifaceted approach that combines ethical considerations and legal frameworks, this Article seeks to catalyze change in the treatment of aquatic animals in research settings. It underscores the importance of aligning our regulatory and ethical frameworks with evolving scientific insights and moral imperatives, ultimately paving the way for more compassionate and just treatment of all sentient beings—whether terrestrial or aquatic—while challenging the underlying speciesism that has long persisted in our society.

Recommended Citation

Sophia Pastorini, Neither Covered Nor Excluded: Impacts of Speciesism on Aquatic Animal Experimentation under the Animal Welfare Act, 2 Animal L. Rev. 211 (2024).
Available at: https://lawcommons.lclark.edu/alr/vol30/iss2/5