Abstract
Simple SummaryOur knowledge of fish welfare is still scant relative to the enormous demands created by aquaculture expansion and focuses primarily on preventing poor health without considering provision of environments conducive to positive experiences. We are far from understanding what individuals of the different species classified under the umbrella term “fish” need to experience good lives. The aquaculture industry has been expanding swiftly, and fishes belonging to hundreds of very different species are now farmed by the billions. Informed by terrestrial animal welfare science, this article aims to set a framework for making progress in investigating how to provide farmed fish with good welfare.This article aims to use contemporary (terrestrial) animal welfare science as a lens to evaluate the state of knowledge concerning welfare in fish species, focusing on farmed fishes. We take advantage of the vast expertise—including previous pitfalls and accomplishments—in the investigation of welfare in terrestrial vertebrates, borrowing questions and methodologies from terrestrial animal welfare science in order to (1) better understand the challenges and opportunities in the study of welfare in fish species, and (2) propose strategies for filling knowledge gaps.
Highlights
IntroductionFigures reveal that in 2015 the number of individual farmed fishes probably exceeded the number of chickens produced for meat, the most farmed terrestrial vertebrates [1,2,3]
The global aquaculture industry has been expanding at an unprecedented rate
Atlantic salmon is one of the most studied farmed fish species, and we know that most Atlantic salmon migrate from freshwater to the ocean after smolting, we know very little about the crucial phase of their post-smolt lives that they spend in the oceans [36,37,38,39]
Summary
Figures reveal that in 2015 the number of individual farmed fishes probably exceeded the number of chickens produced for meat, the most farmed terrestrial vertebrates [1,2,3]. An estimated 51 to 167 billion farmed fishes were slaughtered for food in 2017, a 4–6% increase from 2015 [4]. Unlike chickens farmed for meat (a single species), farmed fishes span hundreds of species that live in different environments and have different needs. We are far from understanding their unique and specific welfare requirements. As it was the case with chickens and other farmed terrestrial animals, we have key evidence supporting the hypothesis that fishes are sentient and, deserving of moral consideration. Filling the gaps in our knowledge of their welfare is urgently needed to ensure that harms against them are minimized and our ethical responsibilities are met
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