Catch-and-release fishing minimizes killing but does not eliminate welfare costs, and anglers who engage with the evidence can significantly reduce harm through better handling practices.
Catch-and-release fishing occupies a welfare position that requires honest engagement rather than assumption that release equals welfare. The welfare impact varies enormously — some anglers practice near-perfect handling while others cause significant harm through unnecessary air exposure, improper handling, and warm-water fishing. The evidence is clear that better handling practices dramatically improve welfare outcomes. Anglers who care about fish welfare can implement these practices without sacrificing the fishing experience: barbless hooks, in-water handling, rapid release, and seasonal restraint when water temperatures are high. The fishing community that engages honestly with welfare science develops more legitimate claims to sustainable and ethical practice.