Marine Animal Welfare

Fish Welfare in Recreational Angling Advanced

Recreational angling affects millions of fish annually; welfare evidence and best practice are growing, with implications for how the activity is conducted.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 billion angling events occur globally each year
Fish are capable of nociception and likely experience pain, challenging traditional views
Catch-and-release welfare depends on handling time, hook type, and water temperature
Barbless hooks, wet hands, and minimal air exposure reduce catch-and-release mortality
Best practice guidelines from angling organisations are improving but adoption is inconsistent

Welfare Considerations

Fish welfare in angling is a serious ethical consideration; the angling community has both the interest and capacity to lead on welfare improvement through practice and advocacy.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks and follow best-practice handling and release guidelines
Support angling clubs and organisations that promote welfare-conscious fishing
Advocate for evidence-based welfare guidelines to become standard in angling education