Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector globally; how welfare standards develop in the coming decades will determine the wellbeing of billions of fish and crustaceans annually.
The trajectory of aquaculture welfare will be determined by the policies, standards, and market signals established in the next decade. The rapid growth of the sector without adequate welfare frameworks creates the risk of locking in intensive production methods that impose welfare costs on enormous numbers of increasingly recognised sentient animals. Conversely, establishing robust welfare standards now — before scaling — can shape a sector that produces food sustainably and humanely.