Aquaculture

Aquaculture: Rudd Welfare in European Freshwater Farming

Aquaculture: Rudd Welfare in European Freshwater Farming - evidence-based welfare information and practical guidance.

Key Facts

Aquaculture provides over 50% of global seafood and is the fastest-growing food sector
Fish welfare is increasingly recognised as a serious ethical and scientific concern
Water quality, stocking density, handling, and slaughter all affect welfare
Certification schemes are developing fish welfare criteria alongside environmental standards
The scale of aquaculture means small improvements have enormous cumulative impact

Welfare Considerations

Aquaculture welfare is rapidly evolving where science, policy, and industry practice are all developing. The enormous scale means incremental welfare improvements translate to massive reductions in suffering. Evidence-based standards and consumer demand for certified products drive progress.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from certified sources with welfare criteria
Support research on aquatic animal welfare
Advocate for species-specific welfare standards in aquaculture legislation
Learn about fish sentience and welfare