Sustainable fishing certifications focus primarily on population and ecosystem health, but welfare considerations for individual fish are increasingly integrated into these frameworks.
Sustainability and welfare are related but distinct dimensions of responsible fishing. A fishery can be sustainable — harvesting populations at rates that allow recovery — while still causing significant individual fish suffering through prolonged asphyxiation, crushing, or thermal shock. The welfare of individual fish in certified sustainable fisheries has historically been secondary to population-level concerns. The Danish welfare labelling initiative and the Aquatic Life Institute certification work represent an emerging recognition that both dimensions matter. A truly responsible fish supply chain addresses both the long-term health of populations and the immediate experience of individual animals.