Companion Animals

Wild Freshwater Fish Catch-and-Release Welfare

Angling catch-and-release is widely practised but has welfare implications. Understanding best practice minimises stress and injury to released fish.

Key Facts

Fish can recover fully from catch-and-release if handled correctly and promptly
Air exposure above 30 seconds significantly impairs welfare and recovery
Barbless hooks cause less tissue damage and enable easier hook removal
Stressed fish show reduced predator avoidance for hours after release

Welfare Considerations

Catch-and-release welfare requires minimising fight time, using barbless hooks, keeping fish in water during unhooking, and returning fish immediately without photography delays. Recovery in flowing water before release ensures fish depart in condition to escape predators.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks for all freshwater angling to minimise tissue trauma
Keep fish in water during unhooking and avoid prolonged air exposure
Support Angling Trust guidelines on catch-and-release best practice