Fish pain management has advanced significantly with validated analgesic protocols now available for several species, enabling more humane care during research and aquaculture procedures.
Fish pain management has moved from theoretical discussion to practical application as validated protocols for common species have been developed and are being adopted. The regulatory and practical barriers to analgesic use in fish are declining as evidence base and institutional acceptance grow. Key welfare improvements include lidocaine bath analgesia for fin clipping, biopsy, and other superficial procedures, and NSAID administration for post-procedural pain management. The scale of fish use in research and aquaculture means that validated pain management protocols, even if modest in individual welfare impact, affect enormous numbers of animals when broadly implemented.