Welfare Science

Zebrafish Welfare in Research

Zebrafish are one of the most widely used model organisms in biomedical research, raising important welfare questions about their sentience and care.

Key Facts

Over 50 million zebrafish are used in research globally each year
They share significant genetic similarity with humans, making them valuable research models
Zebrafish demonstrate pain responses and show avoidance learning after noxious stimuli
Social housing is important for zebrafish welfare as they are shoaling species
Refinement of zebrafish housing and experimental methods is an active welfare research area

Welfare Considerations

Zebrafish welfare is increasingly recognised as a moral priority in research ethics. Applying 3Rs principles to zebrafish - replacing, reducing, and refining experiments - improves both welfare and scientific quality.

What You Can Do

Support 3Rs research centres developing zebrafish welfare refinements
Advocate for welfare standards for zebrafish in research facilities
Engage with debate about zebrafish sentience and moral status
Support development of in vitro alternatives to zebrafish models
Promote transparent welfare reporting in zebrafish research publications