Catch and Release Fishing Welfare Science

What fish welfare science tells us about the impacts of catch-and-release fishing on individual fish health and survival.

Key Facts

Catch-and-release fishing is widely practiced and promoted as more sustainable than harvest fishing
Fish experience stress responses including cortisol elevation during capture, air exposure, and handling
Post-release survival varies enormously by species, fishing method, water temperature, and handling duration
Air exposure above 30 seconds significantly increases mortality risk for many fish species
Barbless hooks reduce injury and enable faster, less invasive hook removal compared to barbed hooks
Water temperature above 18 degrees Celsius significantly reduces post-release survival for salmonids
The fight to exhaustion in sport fishing can cause metabolic acidosis and delayed mortality even in fish that swim away apparently healthy

Welfare Considerations

Catch-and-release fishing presents a genuine welfare challenge that anglers, fisheries managers, and conservationists must grapple with honestly. The welfare harm of capture, handling, and air exposure is real and measurable. Post-release mortality rates that can exceed 30% in some circumstances mean that the assumption of zero impact from releasing fish is incorrect. At the same time, catch-and-release represents a better welfare outcome than harvest for many fish. The welfare-conscious angler minimizes air exposure, uses barbless hooks, avoids fishing when water temperatures exceed safe thresholds, and genuinely assesses whether their fishing methods and contexts minimize harm to the fish they release.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks and practice quick, in-water releases to minimize air exposure time
Avoid fishing salmonids in warm water conditions - above 18 degrees Celsius increases post-release mortality
Net fish horizontally in water rather than removing them from the water for photographs
Learn the post-release survival evidence for the specific species you target and adjust your practice accordingly
Support fishing regulations that restrict catch-and-release in conditions known to produce high mortality