Fish Angling Welfare - Best Practice and Science

Recreational angling is one of the most popular outdoor activities globally, with growing recognition that fish welfare during catch-and-release requires evidence-based best practice to minimize suffering and mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 700 million people fish recreationally worldwide, making angling one of the largest wildlife interactions
Catch-and-release angling is increasingly common but handling, hook injury, and air exposure cause welfare costs
Research shows fish caught and handled optimally have better survival rates than those handled poorly
Barbless hooks, minimized air exposure, and in-water handling reduce mortality in catch-and-release fishing
Some fish species including those with physostomous swim bladders are more resilient to catch-and-release than others

Welfare Considerations

Angling welfare science has advanced significantly, demonstrating that catch-and-release fish experience genuine physiological stress from capture, handling, and air exposure. Fish that are handled briefly in water, with barbless hooks, and returned quickly recover well and show good survival rates. Fish held out of water for photography, handled extensively on dry banks, or caught with deeply embedded hooks face significantly higher mortality and welfare costs. The welfare-positive angler applies best practice based on current evidence and prioritizes fish welfare over the convenience of extended photography or handling.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks to minimize injury and ease hook removal in catch-and-release fishing
Minimize air exposure by keeping fish in water during hook removal and photography
Wet your hands before handling fish to protect their protective slime coat
Learn species-specific welfare best practice for the fish you target
Support angling clubs that promote evidence-based welfare best practice among members