Where current seafood certification schemes fall short on fish welfare and what improvements would make them more meaningful.
Fish welfare certification is at an early stage compared to terrestrial animal welfare labeling. Current major schemes prioritize environmental criteria including stock health, bycatch rates, and habitat impacts while treating fish welfare as a secondary consideration. Comprehensive fish welfare certification would need to address stocking density limits, water quality standards, handling protocols, slaughter methods, and pain management — criteria that would require significant development of fish-specific welfare science. Organizations including the Fish Welfare Initiative are working to develop and promote more meaningful fish welfare standards.