Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tuna are among the most heavily exploited fish species, with wild populations severely depleted by overfishing and aquaculture capture operations presenting their own welfare concerns.
Bluefin tuna welfare encompasses the trauma of capture from purse seines, the stress of crowded ranch pens, and slaughter methods that may not include effective stunning. The cognitive and physiological complexity of these fast, warm-blooded predators suggests their welfare experience is more significant than most fish species. The conservation crisis is welfare-intertwined: populations so depleted that sustainable harvest is impossible mean the exploitation is harming the entire species, not just individuals. Both the wild capture and aquaculture sectors require welfare standards that do not currently exist.