Freshwater Fish Catch-and-Release: Welfare Outcomes

Catch-and-release angling is often presented as a conservation-friendly practice, but the welfare implications for fish - including pain, physiological stress and post-release mortality - deserve serious attention.

Key Facts

Studies show cortisol levels in caught-and-released fish can remain elevated for hours after release
Post-release mortality varies from near-zero to over 40% depending on species, temperature, handling time and tackle
Barbless hooks, wet hands and minimal air exposure significantly reduce injury and mortality in released fish
Deep-hooking (when fish swallow hooks) causes severe internal injury and high post-release mortality
Pike and perch are particularly susceptible to cold-water post-release mortality during winter months

Welfare Considerations

Fish feel pain and experience physiological stress responses that are measurably similar to those of land vertebrates. Catch-and-release fishing, while often well-intentioned, subjects fish to a sequence of stressors: sudden capture, oxygen deprivation, physical handling, air exposure and often physical injury. Even fish that appear to swim away normally may die within hours from exhaustion, immune suppression or infection. Best practice guidelines can reduce these harms substantially, but compliance among anglers is inconsistent. Welfare-aware anglers should follow all recommended guidelines rigorously and consider whether catch-and-release is appropriate in high-stress conditions.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks to reduce injury and handling time when fishing
Keep fish in water at all times and minimise air exposure to under 30 seconds
Use wet hands or a knotless landing net when handling fish
Avoid catch-and-release in very high or very low water temperatures when stress is amplified
Learn species-specific post-release recovery techniques from organisations like the Angling Trust