European perch and pike are freshwater predatory species being cultured in recirculating systems in Europe, with welfare challenges specific to their predatory ecology and territorial behaviour.
Obligate predatory fish face particular welfare challenges in aquaculture because their natural feeding behaviour requires live or freshly dead prey that intensive systems often replace with pellets. Adaptation to pelleted feed is stressful and incomplete for highly predatory species. Cannibalism causes injury, pain, and death. The mismatch between natural ecology and aquaculture conditions is greatest for apex predators like pike. Species-specific welfare standards are urgently needed.