Wild Fish Welfare and Catch and Release Angling

Catch-and-release fishing is promoted as conservation-friendly but causes welfare harm through stress, injury, and delayed mortality that varies by method.

Key Facts

Post-release mortality in catch-and-release fishing ranges from 2 to 50 percent depending on species and conditions
Lactic acid buildup during fighting causes muscle damage and metabolic acidosis
Handling and air exposure time directly affect post-release survival rates
Barbless hooks, wet hands, and minimal air exposure significantly reduce catch-and-release mortality
Water temperature above 20 degrees Celsius dramatically increases catch-and-release mortality in trout

Welfare Considerations

Catch-and-release angling presents a welfare challenge that well-intentioned anglers often underestimate. The physiological stress of fighting a fish, combined with handling and air exposure, causes significant acute suffering and often delayed mortality that occurs after the fish swims away and appears healthy. Welfare-conscious catch-and-release practice minimizes fight time, uses barbless hooks, keeps fish in the water, and avoids high-temperature fishing when mortality rates are highest. Anglers who apply these practices reduce welfare harm substantially compared to casual release practices.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks and handle fish with wet hands during catch-and-release fishing
Minimize fight time by using appropriate tackle strength for the fish being targeted
Keep fish in water throughout the release process and avoid air exposure entirely when possible
Stop fishing for temperature-sensitive species like trout when water exceeds 20 degrees Celsius