Welfare standards for farmed fish are developing rapidly but remain inconsistent globally, with significant variation between species, countries, and certification schemes in the protections they provide.
The development of aquaculture welfare standards faces the challenge of addressing diverse species in complex systems across varied regulatory contexts. Progress has been most rapid for salmon — the species with the strongest scientific evidence base and the most consumer attention. The billions of tilapia, carp, catfish, and other species farmed with minimal welfare attention represent the largest gap.