Fish welfare in aquaculture and wild capture fisheries remains poorly addressed by existing certification schemes, but specialist organisations are working to develop meaningful welfare standards.
Fish welfare certification gaps reflect the historically contested science of fish sentience and the complexity of monitoring welfare in aquatic environments. While vertebrate fish are now widely accepted to have meaningful pain experiences, translating this into practical welfare standards for thousands of species across diverse production systems is genuinely challenging. Current certification progress focuses on measurable indicators including stocking density, water quality, handling procedures, and slaughter methods where standards can be practically verified. The Fish Welfare Initiative and similar organisations are working with producers, retailers, and certifiers to close the gap between fish welfare science and aquaculture standards. Consumer engagement is an important lever for accelerating progress.