Welfare of Animals in Industrial Fishing

Industrial fishing kills tens of billions of fish and hundreds of millions of non-target animals annually, making it numerically one of the largest sources of animal welfare harm on Earth.

Key Facts

An estimated 1-2.3 trillion fish are caught globally each year in wild fisheries
Bycatch — non-target species caught and discarded — accounts for 40% of total catch in some fisheries
Bottom trawling disrupts entire seafloor ecosystems and causes high bycatch rates
Most caught fish die by asphyxiation, crushing, or pressure change — all potentially painful deaths
Some tuna and salmon fisheries have adopted selective gear reducing bycatch by over 90%

Welfare Considerations

Industrial fishing causes welfare harm at an almost incomprehensible scale: asphyxiation of billions of fish, prolonged entanglement and death of non-target dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds, and the crushing of bottom-trawled creatures. Fish welfare science has advanced enough to establish that many caught species are sentient and capable of suffering. Gear modification, area closures, and bycatch reduction devices are available and proven but require regulatory will to implement.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC-certified seafood where possible and ask retailers about bycatch reduction standards
Support bycatch reduction device requirements in commercial fishing regulations
Reduce seafood consumption or choose species with lower welfare and environmental impact
Donate to Aquatic Life Institute campaigns for improved wild-catch fish welfare standards