Aquaculture welfare certification is an emerging field that helps consumers identify fish products from farms with verified welfare standards.
Aquaculture welfare certification fills a gap in consumer information about how farmed fish are raised, handled, and slaughtered. Existing certification schemes like ASC have historically prioritized environmental sustainability over animal welfare, but this is changing as welfare science in fish develops and public awareness grows. Certification that covers stocking density, water quality, handling protocols, disease management, and slaughter methods provides a meaningful welfare signal for consumers. The expansion of welfare-specific criteria in major seafood certification schemes is a priority for improving farmed fish welfare at scale.