Aquaculture is projected to grow substantially over coming decades, making the welfare standards established now critically important for billions of fish.
The trajectory of aquaculture growth makes establishing robust welfare standards now more important than doing so after systems are entrenched. Technologies including RAS that allow better environmental control also create opportunities for improved welfare management. Market-based incentives through certification, regulatory requirements, and consumer pressure are all necessary to ensure welfare keeps pace with production growth. The fish of future aquaculture deserve welfare standards commensurate with our understanding of their sentience.