Aquaculture produces over 50% of seafood consumed globally, yet welfare standards for farmed fish lag far behind those for terrestrial livestock. Evidence-based standards are now emerging.
Fish are often treated as if they cannot suffer, but neuroscience shows they have the capacity for pain and stress. Overcrowded conditions, parasitic infestation, and poor water quality cause chronic suffering to billions of individual fish. Improving aquaculture welfare standards could reduce enormous amounts of animal suffering.