Zebrafish pain research has significantly advanced understanding of fish nociception, with direct implications for both research animal and farmed fish welfare.
Zebrafish pain research has been instrumental in building the scientific case for fish sentience and welfare consideration. By demonstrating clear pain responses - including behavioral changes, analgesic preference, and sensitization - in a tractable model species, this research has provided the evidence base for welfare improvements in both research and aquaculture contexts. The translation from zebrafish research findings to practical welfare improvements in farmed fish represents welfare science working as intended: generating evidence that drives real-world welfare improvements at scale.