Animal Care – RESEARCH | Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

Animal Care – RESEARCH

Guidelines for Researchers

BMSC is committed to the humane and ethical care and use of animals. BMSC is committed to the humane and ethical care and use of animals and adheres to the principle that in order for animal use to be justifiable in scientific research and teaching, it is only acceptable if it has the potential to contribute to the understanding of fundamental biological principles, or to the development of knowledge that can reasonably be expected to benefit humans or other animals. BMSC adheres to the principle that all research involving animals must be justifiable and have good scientific merit.

BMSC complies with Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines and policies and with the Russell-Burch tenet of, “replacement, reduction and refinement”.

The BMSC Animal Care Committee (ACC) ensures that all animal users are informed of and comply with institutional animal care and use policies.

Please read the BMSC Animal Care Committee Terms of Reference.

Animal Use Protocol (AUP) Application Process

1. Apply for your permit(s):

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Collection Permit
– Collection of Marine Animals
– Apply 60 days prior to collection date.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada ITC Permit
– Your research at BMSC may also require a DFO “introductions and transfers license”. Please familiarize yourself with the “licensing requirements specific to BC” and whether or not they apply to your research.
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Resource Management Operations (MFLNRO)
– Terrestrial and Freshwater Animals & Land Access
Parks Canada Research & Collection Permit
– Access to do research on and collection from Parks Canada lands.
Land Access Permits (if applicable):
– Huu-ay-aht First Nations Heritage Investigation (Research) Permit Application

2. Submit your Animal Use Protocol (AUP) to the BMSC Animal Care Committee via the Coordinator of Animal Care

Please allow for a maximum of 60 days for AUP review. If you have trouble downloading the files below, check your ad blocker or try a different browser. Submission deadline for all AUPs:

by March 1st for proposed research start dates between April 1st – June 1st.
by May 1st for proposed research start dates between June 2nd – August 1st.
by July 1st for proposed research start dates between August 2nd and October 1st.
by September 1st for proposed research start dates beginning after October 2nd and before April 1st of the next calendar year (or at least 60 days prior to the proposed research start date in this range).

- AUP form for Researchers – Vertebrates and Cephalopods
- AUP form, observations
  – For field observation of animals with minimal to no disruption.
- AUP form: Collections for External Use
  – For collection and holding of any animals at BMSC which are destined for transport and use at a different institution.
- AUP Renewal Form
  – For renewal of multi-year research protocols.
  – Multi-year AUPs must be renewed every year of the proposed research.
- AUP Amendment Form
  – For minor amendments to an already approved AUP.
- Invertebrate Use Information Form
  – Submit this form 1 week prior to collection if collecting invertebrates.

Tips for Completing Your AUP:

Researchers are welcome and encouraged to seek advice from the Coordinator of Animal Care and the Head of Research Services concerning their AUPs prior to submission.
SOPs for the care and use of animals should be referred to within your AUP wherever appropriate. Species specific animal care SOPs can be found here.

Training

All personnel working with vertebrates or cephalopods must have completed the required animal user training from their home institution that complies with or exceeds the CCAC approved Part 1 and Part 2 Animal User Training. Please note that Part 2 Animal User Training may be provided by BMSC animal care for some species. To access your home institution’s animal user training:

University of Victoria – https://www.uvic.ca/research/conduct/home/animalcare/index.php (Access and Training tab)
University of British Columbia – https://animalcare.ubc.ca/training
Simon Fraser University – https://www.sfu.ca/research/resources/animal-care/animal-care-training-and-orientation
University of Calgary – https://research.ucalgary.ca/animalhealth/animalhealth
University of Alberta – https://www.ualberta.ca/research/research-support/research-ethics-office/support/training/animal-research-ethics-training/index.html

If you are not affiliated with one of these home institutions, you can still access animal user training through: The Experimental Fish – Canadian Aquaculture Institute

Proof of training must be submitted with your AUP.

All animal users at BMSC will be given an Animal Care orientation upon arrival and prior to any animal collections.

All animal users at BMSC must be trained/oriented by the Animal Care staff and approved by the Coordinator of Animal Care on the proper care of their animals.

Contact the ACC if you have any questions regarding training

Animal Collection Reporting

Animal Collections Reporting:

BMSC is required by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to submit reports of all animals used and collected in research and teaching. All researchers, students and other animal users must report their collections to BMSC.

ALL animals removed from their environment count as a collection even if they are put back right away. Including additional notes/comments to your submissions are encouraged. This can include details such as time-of-day, water turbidity, method of capture, lost gear, abnormalities, injuries, foul-hooking, unplanned mortalities, etc.