Drug Research Information Bulletin - Safety of AQUI-S®20E (10% Eugenol) as a Sedative for Channel Catfish

Fish sedatives are physical or chemical agents that initially induce a calming effect on vertebrate animals, and subsequently induce loss of equilibrium, mobility, consciousness, and reflex action. Fisheries professionals routinely sedate fish for a variety of purposes, including collection of tissue samples or morphometric data, implantation of tags or tracking devices, spawning, and transport. Sedating fish before handling can minimize stress and physical injury to the fish and, in some cases, help protect the handler. Ideally, a fish sedative is safe, effective, easy to administer, inexpensive, and has a wide safety margin. Also, it is desirable that the sedative have no mandated withdrawal period so that treated fish can be returned to, or released into public waters immediately after treatment.