Australian Registered · APVMA Approved · Zero Withholding Period
Aquatic Sedative That Works With Nature.
SED8 is Australia’s leading plant-derived aquatic anaesthetic, protecting fish and crustacean welfare during transport, health procedures, harvest and beyond.
Australian Registered · APVMA Approved · Zero Withholding Period
Aquatic Sedative That Works With Nature.
SED8 is Australia’s leading plant-derived aquatic anaesthetic, protecting fish and crustacean welfare during transport, health procedures, harvest and beyond.
0
Withholding Period
20+
Years of Research
50+
Species Validated
APVMA
Registered in Australia
Plant
Derived Active Ingredient
What Is SED8?
SED8 is a water-soluble aquatic anaesthetic based on isoeugenol, a naturally occurring compound derived from plant essential oils. It was developed specifically for use with fish and crustaceans and is fully registered for salmonids in Australia by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for safe, legal use across commercial aquaculture and research.
Zero Withholding Period.
SED8 is registered for salmonids in Australia with a zero food-fish withholding period, for other species contact ADSI. Aquaculture producers can use SED8 at any point in the production cycle, including immediately before slaughter, without any mandatory delay. The compound does not bioaccumulate in tissue or the environment.
How SED8 Works.
The mechanism of action is straightforward and well-characterised across decades of aquaculture research and commercial us
Dissolved in Water
SED8 is mixed into the holding or treatment water at a precisely calculated concentration using the SED8 dose calculator
Absorbed via Gills
Isoeugenol crosses the gill epithelium and enters the bloodstream, reaching the central nervous system within minutes.
Sedation Established
Neural excitability is suppressed, reducing the animal’s response to stress stimuli. At higher doses, full anaesthesia or euthanasia is achieved.
Rapid Recovery
When the animal is transferred to clean water, isoeugenol clears through the gills. Recovery is smooth and complete, typically within minutes.
Dissolved in Water
Absorbed via Gills
Sedation Established
Rapid Recovery
Applications.
SED8 is validated across six core application areas covering the full production lifecycle, from hatchery through to harvest and humane end-of-life.
-
Reduce oxygen consumption, waste accumulation and injury during live fish transfers of any distance. Sedated fish arrive calmer, in better condition and with lower mortality.
Read More -
Prevent autotomy, improve packing compliance and dramatically improve arrival survival for lobster, crab, prawn and crayfish consignments.
Read More -
Sedate fish before slaughter to conserve muscle ATP, delay rigor mortis, reduce gaping and blood spotting, and extend shelf life — improving both welfare and fillet value.
Read More -
Preserve egg and sperm quality, improve fertilisation rates and protect progeny health by reducing cortisol exposure during stripping, injection and handling events.
Read More -
Protect immunity and reduce secondary infections during health checks, vaccination, bath treatments and mechanical delousing procedures.
Read More -
Sedate fish before slaughter to conserve muscle ATP, delay rigor mortis, reduce gaping and blood spotting, and extend shelf life — improving both welfare and fillet value.
Read More
Reduce oxygen consumption, waste accumulation and injury during live fish transfers of any distance. Sedated fish arrive calmer, in better condition and with lower mortality.
Read MorePrevent autotomy, improve packing compliance and dramatically improve arrival survival for lobster, crab, prawn and crayfish consignments.
Read MoreProvide a calm, welfare-compliant method of ending life for research, surplus culling, or end-of-life situations — suitable for any species and size from larvae to large adults.
Read MorePreserve egg and sperm quality, improve fertilisation rates and protect progeny health by reducing cortisol exposure during stripping, injection and handling events.
Read MoreProtect immunity and reduce secondary infections during health checks, vaccination, bath treatments and mechanical delousing procedures.
Read MoreSedate fish before slaughter to conserve muscle ATP, delay rigor mortis, reduce gaping and blood spotting, and extend shelf life — improving both welfare and fillet value.
Read MoreWhy SED8?
Operators across aquaculture and research choose SED8 for its combination of welfare performance, regulatory standing, ease of use and cost.
Genuine Anaesthetic Action
SED8 reduces pain perception as well as behaviour, it is a true anaesthetic, not just a sedative. This analgesic component is particularly important in crustaceans and broodstock procedures.
Plant-Derived & Biodegradable
The active ingredient, isoeugenol, is derived from plant essential oils. It breaks down naturally in the environment and does not bioaccumulate in fish tissue or water systems.
APVMA Registered in Australia
SED8 holds full APVMA registration for salmonid use in Australia, providing producers with a legally compliant product that meets Australia’s rigorous veterinary chemical standards. For other species contact ADSI.
Zero Withholding Period
No mandatory delay between SED8 use and food-fish harvest. Use SED8 at any production stage, including as part of the harvest process itself.
Smooth, Stress-Free Induction
Unlike tricaine (MS-222), SED8 does not cause an aversive excitation phase at induction. Fish enter sedation calmly and predictably, without the erratic behaviour common to other agents.
Scalable to Any Operation
From a 10-litre tank for ornamental fish to a full sea-cage harvest, SED8 scales to any application. The concentration calculator makes accurate dosing straightforward at any volume.
Species Compatibility.
Isoeugenol has been validated across a wide range of commercially important and research-relevant aquatic species. The following are among those with established published or commercially validated dose data.
Finfish
Crustaceans
Don't see your species?
Contact ADSI for a species consultation. A bench trial protocol can be developed for any species not yet listed and ADSI's technical team can provide starting-point dose guidance based on the closest validated species.
Supplied & Supported by ADSI.
SED8 is APVMA registered, manufactured and supplied exclusively by Aquatic Diagnostic Services International (ADSI) in Australia – the country’s leading aquatic health and aquaculture products company, founded in 1995 and based in Banora Point, NSW.
Australia’s Aquatic Health Specialists.
ADSI was established in 1995 as a veterinary-based diagnostic company serving Australia’s aquaculture and ornamental fish industries. Over the following three decades the company expanded its scope to become a full-service aquatic health solutions provider — supplying APVMA-registered sedatives, fish reproduction products, hatchery feeds, water treatments, and specialised equipment to producers across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Ready to Start
Using SED8?
Contact ADSI for product enquiries, technical support, species consultations or to place an order. Our team can assist with protocol design for any application.
