Welfare Science

Fish Analgesia and Pain Management

Research into fish pain and analgesia is advancing rapidly, with clear evidence that fish benefit from analgesic treatment and that pain management matters.

Key Facts

Rainbow trout show reduced wound-related behaviours when given lidocaine and morphine
Fish have nociceptors, neural pathways, and neurochemicals consistent with pain processing
Standard veterinary analgesics including opioids and NSAIDs are effective in fish
Pain management during surgery and invasive procedures is now considered best practice
Regulatory frameworks for fish pain management in research are lagging behind the science

Welfare Considerations

Fish experience pain and benefit from analgesic treatment. Integration of routine pain management into fish surgery, research, and aquaculture practice is an urgent welfare improvement aligned with the best available science.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory analgesia in fish surgical procedures in research and veterinary contexts
Support 3Rs refinements that incorporate fish pain management
Engage with aquaculture industry discussions about fish analgesic use during stressful procedures
Support research funding for fish pain physiology and analgesic efficacy
Learn about the neuroscience of fish pain and share this knowledge