Improving aquaculture welfare at scale requires governance frameworks that create accountability and incentivise industry change beyond voluntary commitments.
Aquaculture welfare governance faces a fundamental challenge: most production occurs in countries with limited welfare regulation, while most welfare certification is driven by consumer markets in importing countries. This creates a two-tier system where high-welfare certified production serves premium markets while standard production serves mass markets with minimal welfare requirements. International governance frameworks, trade requirements and consumer certification working together are necessary to drive industry-wide change. The trajectory of aquaculture welfare governance is improving but slowly — the gap between welfare science and regulatory reality remains substantial.