Training aquaculture workers to recognize and respond to fish welfare indicators is a critical but underdeveloped component of improving welfare outcomes across the fish farming industry.
Welfare improvements in aquaculture depend fundamentally on the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the people who work with fish daily. Without training in fish welfare assessment, workers cannot identify pain indicators, recognize stress behaviors, or distinguish between healthy and compromised fish. Research consistently shows that worker attitudes toward fish sentience — whether they believe fish can suffer — are among the strongest predictors of actual welfare outcomes on farms. Training programs that provide both knowledge about fish sentience and practical skills in welfare assessment change these attitudes and behaviors. Investing in aquaculture worker training is a high-leverage intervention because it improves welfare across entire operations, not just individual animals.