Live Bait Use in Angling: Welfare Implications

The use of live fish and invertebrates as bait in angling raises significant welfare questions about animals used as tools for catching others.

Key Facts

Live fish are used as bait for pike, perch, and other predatory species across Europe
Livebaiting involves hooking a fish through the back or lips and using it to attract predators
The practice is banned in Germany, Switzerland, and many other European countries
Artificial lures achieve similar or equal angling effectiveness without live bait welfare costs
Pain and stress responses in fish used as bait are documented by the same evidence that supports fish sentience

Welfare Considerations

Live baiting subjects fish to acute welfare harm: the hooking procedure causes pain; confinement in a bait bucket causes stress; and the process of being pursued and consumed by a predator causes extreme fear and injury. The welfare cost is paid by the bait fish and is entirely avoidable — artificial lures are effective substitutes for most applications. The welfare case against live baiting is strong under any reasonable assessment of fish sentience, and the legal bans in several European countries reflect this consensus.

What You Can Do

Never use live fish as angling bait
Use artificial lures that achieve equivalent or better results without welfare costs
Advocate for live bait bans in countries and jurisdictions where it remains permitted
Support the Angling Trust and Fish Welfare Initiative positions on live bait welfare
Learn about effective artificial lure fishing techniques as alternatives to live bait