Sport Fishing and Catch-and-Release Welfare: The Evidence on Fish Pain

Catch-and-release fishing is widely practised as a conservation-friendly alternative to harvest fishing. But scientific evidence on fish pain and stress responses raises welfare questions that anglers and fishing organisations need to address.

Key Facts

Hooking, fighting, air exposure and handling cause measurable physiological stress in fish including cortisol spikes, oxygen depletion and scale and mucus damage
Even when fish swim away after release, post-release mortality rates of 10-30% are documented for some species and methods, particularly when fish are exhausted or deeply hooked
Fish nociceptors respond to the same stimuli and in similar ways to mammalian pain receptors — the evidence that fish experience pain is now considered strong by most pain scientists
Best practice catch-and-release including barbless hooks, minimal air exposure (under 30 seconds), wet hands and quick unhooking significantly reduces welfare harm
Angling organisations including the Angling Trust have developed best practice guidelines that, if followed, substantially reduce welfare harm in recreational fishing

Welfare Considerations

Catch-and-release fishing sits in an ethically complex position for welfare-conscious anglers. The activity causes measurable pain and stress, but best practice substantially reduces harm and post-release mortality. For those who choose to fish, strict adherence to welfare best practice — barbless hooks, minimal air exposure, wet hands, quick release — represents a genuine welfare commitment. For those considering whether catch-and-release is ethically acceptable, engaging seriously with the fish pain evidence rather than dismissing it is the intellectually honest starting point. Fishing organisations that incorporate fish welfare into their advocacy and guidance are moving in the right direction.

What You Can Do

If you fish, use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure to under 30 seconds and keep fish wet throughout handling
Support angling organisations that have adopted welfare-positive guidelines and actively promote fish welfare
Engage honestly with the fish pain evidence when discussing catch-and-release fishing with fellow anglers
Advocate for fish welfare to be included in angling education and licensing frameworks
Consider whether your catch-and-release practice meets best practice standards — and upgrade where it does not