Recreational angling involves billions of fish annually in catch-and-release and harvest contexts, with growing evidence that handling practices significantly affect fish welfare and survival.
Fish welfare in recreational angling is receiving increasing scientific and public attention, though cultural norms in angling communities have been slow to change. The evidence is clear: minimizing fight time, avoiding air exposure, using barbless hooks, and handling fish with wet hands or landing mats dramatically reduces injury and post-release mortality. These practices serve both fish welfare and conservation goals simultaneously.