Fish welfare matters because fish have feelings too • SPCA New Zealand

Fish are currently raised and killed in higher numbers than any other farmed animal in the world, yet the welfare of fish remains a seldom discussed topic. This is unsurprising, given our distance on the evolutionary chain and our unfamiliarity with their underwater lives. It also does not help that we cannot easily recognise their facial expressions or hear them vocalise, both of which are important for human empathy.

Fish have feelings like other farmed animals

Approximately 20 years ago research on whether fish could feel pain and suffer caused waves in the scientific community. Now, all evidence suggests that fish are sentient and live far more complex emotional and social lives than we give them credit for.

Fish have excellent long-term memories, they can develop complex traditions, cooperate with other species, recognise each other, use tools, and play! We are now in the position to say that fish are intelligent and emotional animals, with the capacity to experience pain and suffering, as well as positive emotional states. As the momentum in the aquaculture industry grows, we need to ensure that fish welfare is prioritised.

Current welfare protection for fish

In New Zealand, fish are recognised as sentient under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. There are specific requirements for the slaughter of farmed fish set out by the Code of Welfare for Commercial Slaughter. However, in contrast to other farmed animals, there is no code of welfare for farmed fish.

Salmon Farming in New Zealand

Whilst most of the world’s salmon farmers farm the common Atlantic species, New Zealand specialises in farming Chinook salmon, also known as King salmon or Quinnat salmon, which is the largest of the Pacific salmon species. New Zealand’s farmed Chinook salmon makes up over 50% of the global Chinook production.

Wild salmon lay their eggs in freshwater and juveniles, once mature, migrate to sea water. This is why farmed juveniles are reared in freshwater hatcheries on land before being transferred to sea pens. There they spend the next 16 months of their life until harvest.

SPCA Certified standards for Chinook (King) salmon

SPCA Certified has developed standards to improve the welfare of farmed Chinook salmon. Our standards incorporate the unique needs and requirements of farmed salmon within the New Zealand farming landscape and aim to not only reduce negative experiences but, importantly, promote positive mental states. For example, salmon must be able to move freely to explore their environment so they can find areas of temperature, current velocity and light levels they prefer, and recently hatched fish (alevins) must be able to access a safe environment where they can burrow and seek shelter.

Why your choices at the supermarket matter

Our welfare certification programme gives organisations the opportunity to be recognised for raising their farming practices above what is legally required to improve fish welfare.

The decisions we make as conscious consumers have placed pressure on industries to prioritise the welfare of our land-based animals, now we must do the same for our finned animals. Ultimately, our current knowledge of fish sentience means that we must afford them the protection they deserve.

If you would like to encourage your local supermarkets or retailers to stock SPCA Certified products, please feel free to contact them directly. The more businesses stock products with the SPCA Certified blue badge, the more opportunity it gives consumers to buy products which help give New Zealand animals a better life.