Aquaculture produces over half the world's seafood but faces significant welfare challenges that are increasingly being addressed through research and improved practices.
Aquaculture fish face welfare challenges at industrial scale that are only beginning to receive appropriate attention. Atlantic salmon in intensive net pens may experience chronic stress from high stocking densities, sea lice infestations causing open wounds, and the inability to perform natural migration behaviors. Slaughter without stunning is still common in many operations, causing unnecessary suffering in the killing process. However, the sector is evolving - welfare standards are increasingly incorporated into certification schemes, stunning technology is being adopted, and research is driving improvements in disease management and housing conditions. The sheer number of fish involved - potentially hundreds of billions annually - makes aquaculture welfare one of the highest-priority areas for animal welfare improvement by total animals affected.