Aquaculture certification schemes have historically prioritised environmental sustainability over animal welfare, but this is beginning to change in response to scientific and consumer pressure.
Aquaculture certification has historically been the primary tool for consumer-driven welfare improvement in farmed fish, yet most schemes were designed primarily for environmental sustainability with welfare as an afterthought. The growing scientific recognition of fish sentience has prompted certification bodies to add and strengthen welfare criteria, but the depth of welfare assessment in current schemes is variable and often insufficient to assure meaningful welfare outcomes. The challenge is developing practical, validated welfare indicators for diverse aquaculture species that can be assessed in audit contexts. Consumer demand for welfare-specific aquaculture certification is growing and creating commercial pressure for scheme improvement.