Why Fish Welfare Matters

Fish are currently raised and killed in higher numbers than any other farmed animal, yet the welfare of fish remains a seldom discussed topic in public and political spheres. 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.

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

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 fish are intelligent and emotional animals, with the capacity to experience pain, suffering and positive emotional states. Therefore, as the momentum grows in the aquaculture industry, we need to ensure that fish welfare is prioritised.

In New Zealand, fish are recognised as sentient under the Animal Welfare Act (1999) and they are included in Codes of Welfare for Commercial Slaughter. However, for the most part, fish are largely excluded from detailed legislation compared to other farmed animals.

A potential reason for this, is that unlike cattle (a single species) farmed for meat and dairy products, farmed fish encompass hundreds of species, each with different needs and welfare requirements. There are approximately 35,000 known species, which we refer to as “fishes”. However, the difference between one fish to another, may be as different as a mouse and a moose. Species-specific research is crucial in deciphering what good welfare means for each species and determining their specific wants and needs.

Whilst the majority 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. Chinook is the largest of the Pacific salmon species. They are grown from eggs, to juveniles in hatcheries on land and then transferred to sea pens where they spend the next 16 months of their life until harvest.

SPCA Certified has developed animal welfare standards for Chinook salmon (Hāmana) which are derived from the ‘Five Domains of Animal Welfare’ model, to minimise suffering and promote positive emotional states. The domains include nutrition, physical environment, health, and behavioural interactions. Each of these four physical domains contribute to the provision of opportunities for positive mental experiences, as evaluated in the fifth domain. The standards incorporate the unique needs and requirements of Chinook salmon, within the New Zealand farming landscape.

Our welfare certification programme gives organisations the opportunity to be recognised for raising the bar of animal welfare in their farming practices, above what is legally required - which for fish is not a lot.

The decisions we make as conscious consumers have placed pressure on industries to prioritise the welfare of our four legged animals, we must continue do the same for our finned animals too. Ultimately, our current knowledge of fish sentience warrants the expansion of humanity’s moral circle to welcome fish and 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.

We don’t have any SPCA Certified salmon products at the moment but welcome and encourage farmers and retailers who are interested in becoming SPCA Certified to get in touch with us: certified@spca.nz