Scientific understanding of fish pain and sentience has developed substantially. Evidence has significant implications for wild fisheries management and recreational fishing.
Acceptance of fish sentience by major scientific and regulatory bodies has significant welfare implications for wild-capture fisheries affecting billions of fish annually. Improvements in slaughter practices for commercially landed fish and guidelines for catch-and-release practice to minimise injury and stress represent achievable near-term welfare gains. The scale of fish mortality in global fisheries dwarfs that of any other vertebrate group, making fish welfare one of the highest-impact areas in animal welfare.