Fish Farming Certification and Welfare Standards

Aquaculture certification schemes vary enormously in their welfare requirements, and understanding what different labels mean helps consumers make informed choices that support higher standards.

Key Facts

Global aquaculture now produces more than half of all fish consumed by humans
Certification schemes for farmed fish include ASC, RSPCA Assured, Best Aquaculture Practices, and others
Welfare criteria vary significantly between schemes — some address fish welfare explicitly while others focus primarily on environmental impacts
RSPCA Assured salmon standards include specific requirements for stocking density, water quality, slaughter, and health monitoring
ASC certification primarily addresses environmental sustainability with limited fish welfare requirements
Independent auditing quality varies significantly between schemes and over time

Welfare Considerations

Fish farming certification schemes present a significant information challenge for welfare-conscious consumers. Labels that appear welfare-focused may not include meaningful fish-specific welfare requirements, while environmental labels may be silent on animal welfare entirely. Understanding which schemes have robust, independently audited, fish-specific welfare standards is essential for making purchasing decisions that genuinely support better outcomes. Currently, RSPCA Assured provides the most comprehensive fish welfare standards among mainstream certification schemes in the UK. Consumer demand for better welfare labelling can drive the development and strengthening of standards across the sector. Transparency and honesty from certification bodies about what their standards do and do not cover is essential.

What You Can Do

Research the specific welfare requirements of certification schemes before trusting labels on fish products
Prioritise RSPCA Assured salmon and other products with independently audited, fish-specific welfare standards
Contact certification bodies and retailers to ask for greater transparency about fish welfare requirements
Reduce overall farmed fish consumption where welfare-certified alternatives are unavailable
Support organisations advocating for fish welfare standards to be strengthened in aquaculture certification schemes
Engage with supermarkets about their sourcing policies and welfare requirements for farmed fish