Educational Resources to Promote Best Practice in the Humane Dispatch of Fish Caught By Recreational Fishers

Iki jime (also known as ikejime), is a Japanese method of brain spiking (pithing) that is the fastest and most humane way to kill fish.  Rapid dispatch of finfish using this method improves fish welfare outcomes, as well as flesh quality and the potential for extended shelf life. However, we found that resources demonstrating accurate “how to” information on the iki jime procedure were non-existent. This information gap was considered a barrier to the widespread uptake of the iki jime method amongst recreational fishers.  We filled this information gap by developing resources which provide accurate information on the iki-jime procedure and pinpoint the brain location of fish commonly captured by recreational fishers. To assist with education of recreational fishers and the broader community, a new website www.ikijime.com was developed, together with the Ikijime Tool series of phone apps for Apple and Android phones.  The Ikijime Tool Lite version is a free app that allows limited access to the online database. The Ikijime Tool version provides unlimited access to the online database, while the Ikijime Tool Extreme version contains its own database and thus retains full functionality even in remote places out of phone or internet range.