Aquaculture certification schemes have multiplied in recent decades, but welfare standards vary significantly and many prominent sustainability certifications have historically neglected animal welfare metrics.
Aquaculture certification is a critical leverage point for improving welfare across the sector, but current certifications have historically prioritised environmental sustainability over animal welfare. A certification that guarantees responsible feed sourcing and low escapes but does not address stocking density, slaughter method, or sea lice management leaves the most significant welfare issues unaddressed. The challenge is developing validated welfare indicators for fish that can be audited reliably at farm level -- a methodological challenge the field is actively working on. Consumer demand for welfare-inclusive certification, combined with retailer requirements, is the most direct pressure on certification bodies to raise welfare standards.