The ability to assess pain in farmed fish has improved substantially, with new behavioural and physiological tools enabling better welfare monitoring in aquaculture settings.
Pain assessment in farmed fish has moved from academic debate to practical application. Producers can now access validated welfare assessment tools covering key indicators, and regulatory frameworks in Norway, the UK, and elsewhere increasingly require evidence of welfare monitoring. The remaining gap is between assessment capability and actual on-farm use - many farms lack trained staff or equipment to apply available tools. Translating research advances into routine practice is the critical next step for farmed fish welfare.