Fish used in research are increasingly recognized as sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, requiring improved welfare standards in laboratory settings.
Fish pain recognition in laboratory settings has lagged behind mammalian research ethics. The assumption that fish do not experience pain in a meaningful sense has led to inadequate analgesia during invasive procedures. Current evidence strongly supports that fish experience nociception and show behavioral responses consistent with pain. Zebrafish, widely used in genetics research, are particularly affected given the scale of their use. Welfare improvements including anesthetic protocols, post-procedural monitoring, and enriched housing are now becoming standard in forward-thinking institutions.