Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Fish Anaesthesia Best Practice

Anaesthesia for farmed fish during husbandry and veterinary procedures is achievable and significantly reduces handling stress across multiple species.

Key Facts

MS-222 and clove oil are the most widely used and licensed fish anaesthetics
Proper dosing requires species and size-specific calibration
Buffered MS-222 reduces skin irritation during induction
Recovery in well-oxygenated water with monitoring is critical for safety
Anaesthesia is now expected by RSPCA Assured and other welfare certification schemes

Welfare Considerations

Handling fish without anaesthesia during significant procedures causes measurable physiological stress and potential injury. As fish welfare science and regulation advance, anaesthesia is becoming the expected standard.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes that require anaesthesia for significant procedures
Advocate for expanded licensing and training in fish anaesthesia techniques
Choose farmed fish products from certified farms with published welfare protocols