Smelt Welfare in Small-Scale Aquaculture and Fisheries

Key Facts

• Smelts are anadromous or landlocked small fish important in food webs as forage species
• Ice fishing for smelt involves live bait practices and traditional killing methods without stunning
• Smelts are highly sensitive to handling stress — their small size makes temperature and oxygen management critical
• As forage fish, their welfare in capture fisheries often goes completely unconsidered
• Research interest in smelt aquaculture development is increasing as wild populations face pressure from climate change

Welfare Considerations

Smelt welfare is rarely considered despite their ecological importance as forage fish and their role in recreational and small-scale fisheries. As small, short-lived fish, their individual welfare seems less salient than larger species, but the evidence for fish sentience applies regardless of body size. Ice fishing practices involving live bait smelt cause prolonged exposure and gradual cooling without stunning. In capture fisheries, vast numbers of smelts die as bycatch with no welfare consideration. The precautionary principle suggests that as welfare science strengthens, the welfare of small forage fish deserves greater attention relative to their enormous population numbers.

What You Can Do

• Apply fish welfare principles regardless of species size — evidence for sentience is not size-dependent
• Support development of welfare standards for forage fish in commercial and recreational fisheries
• Minimize live bait use in recreational fishing — pre-killed or artificial alternatives reduce welfare costs
• Advocate for the welfare of forage fish to be considered in fisheries management frameworks
• Support research into the welfare implications of forage fish capture at the population scale