Research into zebrafish pain responses has significant welfare implications both for zebrafish themselves and for their use as models for pain research.
Zebrafish pain research occupies a unique position in laboratory animal welfare - research on pain in zebrafish has simultaneously demonstrated their welfare relevance and improved understanding that can improve their own welfare management. The evidence from zebrafish pain studies supports provision of analgesia for procedures causing noxious stimuli, application of the 3Rs principles to zebrafish welfare, and consideration of welfare status across developmental stages used in research. The larvae-adult distinction in regulatory protection creates a welfare gap that the evidence base for larval pain capacity does not support maintaining.