Marine Animal Welfare

Wild Fish Welfare: Hook Injuries and Catch-and-Release

Catch-and-release angling is widely practised as a conservation measure but carries real welfare costs for fish through injury, exhaustion and physiological stress.

Key Facts

Hook wounds cause tissue damage and can result in infection in fish
Physiological stress during capture includes elevated cortisol and lactic acid accumulation
Deeply hooked fish have significantly higher post-release mortality than lip-hooked fish
Water temperature and handling time critically affect recovery probability
Barbless hooks and wet hands during handling reduce injury and mortality rates

Welfare Considerations

While catch-and-release reduces harvest pressure on wild fish populations, it is not without welfare cost. Fish handled out of water for photography and measurement experience significant physiological stress. Best practice guidance recommends minimising air exposure, using barbless hooks, avoiding handling in warm water and supporting fish in the water during recovery before release.

What You Can Do

Use barbless hooks when practising catch-and-release angling
Minimise air exposure - aim for under 30 seconds out of water
Wet your hands before handling fish to protect their mucus coating
Learn about evidence-based best practice for humane catch-and-release