The evidence that fish experience pain has grown substantially over the past two decades, with important implications for fishing and aquaculture welfare standards.
Early dismissals of fish pain based on lack of neocortex have given way to evidence that fish use subcortical structures to process noxious stimuli. The functional effect — behavioral modification in response to harmful stimuli — is present regardless of the exact neural pathway. This has direct implications for commercial fishing, recreational angling, and aquaculture.