Effects of rested-harvest using the anesthetic AQUI-S™ on channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, physiology and fillet quality

Trials were conducted to determine effects of AQUI-S™ sedation during harvest (rested-harvest) on physiological responses and fillet quality of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Rested-harvest is defined as application of an anesthetic immediately before harvest to reduce fish activity associated with a normal harvest. Doses of 25–35 ppm AQUI-S™ were effective for rested-harvest of catfish (loss of equilibrium in 3 to 10 min and 100% survival following recovery). Time to loss of equilibrium and time to recovery following sedation with 35 ppm AQUI-S™ increased as water temperature decreased from 30 °C to 10 °C. Catfish exposed to 25 ppm AQUI-S™, 35 ppm AQUI-S™, 100 ppm trincaine methanesulfonate, and 8 ppm metomidate had lower blood lactate, cortisol, and glucose and higher blood pH than unsedated fish exposed to a low-water stress. Rested-harvest (RH) catfish had higher muscle and blood pH, lower blood and muscle lactate, and higher muscle ATP levels than catfish exposed to a 45 min low-water stress. Rates of muscle pH decrease, ATP decrease, and lactate increase accelerated as storage temperature decreased from 15 °C to 5 °C in RH fish acclimated to summer temperatures (33 °C), conversely these rates accelerated as storage temperature increased from 5 °C to 15 °C in RH fish acclimated to winter temperatures (7 °C). Based on physiological response (higher muscle pH, lower blood lactate, delayed time to rigor), post-sedation euthanasia by CO 2 was superior to post-sedation euthanasia by AQUI-S™ overdose (150 ppm), nitrogen gas, or electrical stunning. Compared to fillets from fish exposed to simulated industry transport conditions, fillets from RH/CO 2 euthanised fish had higher pH 1 h post-slaughter, and less drip-loss and lower L ⁎ and a ⁎ color values during 7 days of iced storage. RH/CO 2 and control fillets were not different for shelf-life based on bacterial counts. Rested-harvest with AQUI-S™ followed by CO 2 euthanasia has potential to improve catfish fillet quality, but AQUI-S™ approval, development of rested-harvest strategies, and demonstration of economic benefits of rested-harvest will be required for adoption of rested-harvest to commercial catfish production.