Pain Management in Farmed Fish: Emerging Practice

The development of analgesic protocols for farmed fish is an emerging area reflecting growing acceptance of fish sentience and welfare obligations.

Key Facts

Clove oil provides effective analgesia for fish undergoing procedures
Benzocaine is widely used as fish anesthetic in research settings
The AVMA recommends appropriate analgesia for fish undergoing potentially painful procedures
Pain management in fish is hampered by limited knowledge of appropriate dosing and efficacy
Some progressive aquaculture operations are implementing analgesic protocols for routine procedures

Welfare Considerations

Pain management in farmed fish is at an early stage analogous to companion animal pain management several decades ago. Limited knowledge of fish pain physiology and analgesic efficacy constrains practice, but evidence-based protocols are developing. The principle that fish capable of pain deserve analgesia for painful procedures is increasingly accepted. Investment in fish pain pharmacology research would accelerate the development of practical analgesic protocols for aquaculture.

What You Can Do

Support research into fish pain pharmacology and analgesic protocol development
Advocate for pain management to be required in aquaculture welfare standards for procedures
Choose aquaculture products from producers investing in fish welfare including pain management
Donate to fish welfare research organizations developing analgesic protocols