Ethical Considerations for Echinoderms: New Initiatives in Welfare

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study discusses the moral issues surrounding the study of echinoderms, a class of marine animals that is attracting interest from scientists. The significance of safely handling these animals is stressed and promotes an ethical standard that is customized to their needs. Our strategy was heavily influenced by the 3Rs principle, which advocates for substituting aware living vertebrates with non-sentient material in research. Echinoderms are excellent models for experimental inquiry because they are typically thought to be non-sentient. Although it is not possible to assess their mental states at this time, there is ample evidence of social behavior in many species, suggesting that ignoring interactions with them could be detrimental to their wellbeing. Recently, progress has been made toward developing an ethical framework for invertebrates, such as crustaceans, echinoderms, and cephalopods. To protect the welfare of echinoderms even in the absence of specific standards, we suggest an enlarged version of the 5Rs framework that includes responsibility and respect. In addition to advancing our knowledge of these interesting species, this research establishes a critical standard for the responsible and sympathetic care of all animals in scientific research. ABSTRACT: This paper explores the ethical considerations surrounding research on echinoderms, a group of invertebrates that has recently garnered attention in the scientific community. The importance of responsible animal handling and the need for an ethical framework that encompasses echinoderms are emphasized. The 3Rs principle, advocating for the replacement of conscious living vertebrates with non-sentient material in research, is discussed as a guiding tool in current animal research practices. As invertebrates are generally classified as non-sentient animals, the replacement dimension tends to favor them as prevalent models in experimental research. While it currently lacks the means to assess the mental states of invertebrates, there is undeniable evidence of social behavior in many species, suggesting that a lack of interactions with these organisms could potentially adversely affect their wellbeing. In the last few years, considerable progress has been made in developing an ethical framework that takes invertebrates into account, particularly cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In this context, we discuss the development of a broader conceptual framework of 5Rs that includes responsibility and respect, which may guide practices ensuring welfare in echinoderms, even in the absence of any particular normative.