Aquaculture Welfare Certification Coverage Gaps

Despite the growth of aquaculture welfare certification schemes, major coverage gaps leave billions of farmed fish without any welfare protection.

Key Facts

Only approximately 15% of globally farmed fish are covered by any welfare certification scheme
Shrimp, which constitute the largest volume of farmed aquatic animals, have very limited certification coverage
ASC, GlobalG.A.P., and RSPCA Assured are the leading certification schemes with fish welfare components
Freshwater fish species including tilapia, carp, and catfish are largely uncertified despite massive global volumes
Standards vary enormously between schemes, making meaningful comparison difficult for consumers

Welfare Considerations

The aquaculture certification landscape has improved significantly over the past decade but remains deeply fragmented and incomplete. Billions of fish are farmed annually under conditions with no welfare oversight whatsoever. Coverage is biased toward high-value species sold in premium markets, leaving low-cost species - which often have the worst welfare conditions - uncertified. Addressing these coverage gaps requires both consumer pressure on retailers and regulatory action to establish minimum statutory welfare standards for all farmed fish species.

What You Can Do

Choose certified seafood products and ask retailers about their sourcing standards
Advocate for mandatory minimum welfare standards in aquaculture regulation
Support expansion of certification schemes to cover more species and geographies
Learn about the welfare conditions of specific farmed fish species
Engage with organizations campaigning for comprehensive fish welfare legislation