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Conservationists voice concern over Sea Life deaths
The MCS has collaborated with Sea Life on various conservation projects.

Marine Conservation Society reviewing partnership with aquarium

Conservationists have voiced concern after a BBC investigation found that a total of 4,500 marine animals died at eight Sea Life centres in England in a single year (2015-2016).

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said that the findings are a 'cause for concern’ and that ‘discrepancies between individual centres need to be explained’.

According to the BBC, the deaths occurred at centres In Birmingham, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, London, Manchester, Scarborough and Weymouth. In Great Yarmouth, there were 812 deaths out of a total of 2,293, equating to around one in every three animals.

MCS Ocean Ambassador Dr Ben Garrod told the BBC: “You wouldn’t go into hospital and expect a one-in-three chance of dying. You wouldn’t expect that in a zoo. I don’t think it is acceptable.”

Sea Life owner Merlin Entertainments told the BBC that different aquariums couldn’t be compared “like for like” because of the diverse range of animals. It explained that some of the losses at its Great Yarmouth Centre were the result of a “technically complex” water issue.

“The response we’ve seen from Sealife reassures us to some degree. In particular, the incidents of high mortality appear to be the result of unforeseen problems which the chain has taken steps to rectify,” said MCS head of programmes Dr Chris Tuckett.

“There are still questions over the keeping of some animals including endangered species and we would like to see a more robust set of record-keeping maintained by public aquariums to demonstrate that they give the specimens in their tanks care and attention as a matter of routine”.

The MCS has collaborated with Sea Life on various conservation projects and accepted sponsorship to produce its Good Fish Guide. In light of the recent findings, Dr Tuckett said that the MCS will be reviewing its partnership with the aquarium if future collaboration is to be pursued.

Image (C) Roy Kilcullen Photography/Gp258/Wikimedia Commons

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.