Marine Animals

Overfishing and Fish Welfare in Commercial Fisheries

Commercial fishing methods cause widespread suffering through barotrauma, suffocation, crushing, and prolonged stress before death.

Key Facts

Global commercial fisheries kill 1-2 trillion fish annually by most estimates
Trawl nets drag fish from depth causing painful barotrauma from pressure change
Fish on vessels typically die by suffocation over many minutes or hours
Stunning before killing is rare in commercial fisheries despite fish sentience evidence
Bycatch discards dead or dying non-target species including seabirds and turtles

Welfare Considerations

The scale of suffering in commercial fisheries is staggering and largely invisible. Fish sentience evidence has accumulated substantially, yet welfare standards in fisheries lag decades behind those for land animals. Transitioning to humane slaughter methods and reducing bycatch are urgent priorities for improving welfare outcomes at scale.

What You Can Do

Reduce fish consumption to lower demand for commercial fisheries
Choose pole-and-line caught fish with lower bycatch rates
Support organizations advocating for fish welfare standards in fisheries law
Advocate for mandatory stunning requirements before fish killing
Support the transition to humane slaughter in aquaculture as a starting point