Consumer-facing welfare labels for aquaculture products are emerging but remain inconsistent in their standards, making it difficult for consumers to make informed welfare-positive choices.
The aquaculture labeling landscape creates genuine challenges for consumers who want to make welfare-positive seafood choices. The fragmentation of certification standards, the absence of a single credible global welfare label, and the limited welfare provisions in many existing certifications mean that certified sustainable seafood may or may not reflect good welfare practices. Positive change requires consumer demand for specific welfare provisions, retailer commitment to sourcing with welfare criteria, and the development of credible welfare certification standards backed by science. Until these exist, the best consumer strategy is to seek out certifications with explicit welfare provisions and advocate for stronger standards from existing programs.