Catch-and-Release Fishing: Welfare Science and Best Practices

What the science says about stress and injury in catch-and-release fishing and how anglers can minimize harm to released fish.

Key Facts

Catch-and-release fishing has expanded significantly as conservation awareness has grown among anglers.
Post-release mortality varies dramatically by species, water temperature, and handling practices.
Hooking injury location significantly affects survival: deep hooking causes higher mortality than lip hooking.
Air exposure longer than 30 seconds dramatically increases post-release mortality in many freshwater species.
Water temperature above 20 degrees Celsius significantly reduces oxygen carrying capacity, increasing stress.
Barbless hooks reduce tissue damage and enable faster, less traumatic release.

Welfare Considerations

Catch-and-release fishing causes welfare harms that vary considerably based on angler behavior and environmental conditions. The evidence for fish pain experience has strengthened substantially, making responsible catch-and-release practices an ethical imperative for anglers who choose to practice the sport. Key welfare improvements are low-cost and easily implemented: barbless hooks, keeping fish in water during release, using wet hands or rubberized nets to handle fish, and avoiding fishing when water temperatures are too high. These practices also improve post-release survival rates, aligning welfare and conservation goals. Education programs integrated into fishing licensing processes can normalize best practices across the angling community.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks and practice quick, in-water release to minimize stress and injury to caught fish.
Avoid fishing when water temperatures are high enough to compromise fish recovery.
Keep fish in water at all times during handling rather than lifting them for photographs.
Share catch-and-release best practices with other anglers through fishing communities and clubs.