Welfare of Fish During Recreational Angling

Catch-and-release angling is popular worldwide but raises welfare questions about the pain and stress experienced by fish during hooking, playing, and handling.

Key Facts

Over 3 million people participate in recreational angling in the UK annually
Fish have nociceptors and neural pathways capable of processing pain signals
Angling-induced stress includes elevated cortisol, tissue damage from hooks, and exhaustion
Catch-and-release practices vary enormously in welfare quality - barbless hooks and minimal handling reduce harm
Delayed mortality in released fish can occur hours after release due to handling stress and injury

Welfare Considerations

The welfare evidence for fish pain is now sufficiently strong to warrant serious consideration of angling practices. Hooking, playing under tension, and handling cause acute physiological stress responses consistent with pain and distress. Poorly executed catch-and-release - using barbed hooks, long fights, dry-hand handling, and air exposure - causes welfare harm even when fish swim away apparently unaffected. Best practice minimizes fight time, uses barbless hooks, employs wet hands and landing mats, and returns fish quickly to water. These changes significantly reduce welfare impact while maintaining the recreational experience.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks and minimize fight time when catch-and-release angling
Never hold fish by the jaw or keep them out of water for photography for more than 30 seconds
Wet your hands before handling fish to protect their protective mucus layer
Use knotless landing nets that reduce scale and fin damage on caught fish
Support the Angling Trust's fish welfare guidelines and advocate for best practice in your fishing club