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Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°34377 : Bien-être des poissons en élevage

By June 15, 2021June 29th, 2021No Comments

Document type : French National Assembly written answer published in the Journal officiel de la République française

Authors: Question: Vincent Ledoux (Agir ensemble - Nord). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Question: Mr Vincent Ledoux draws the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Food to the welfare of fish in farming. While there are specific regulations on the welfare of terrestrial animals in France, there are none on the welfare of fish. However, science tells us that farmed aquatic animals have a capacity for suffering similar to that in terrestrial animals. Accordingly, the welfare of farmed aquatic animals should be given the same scrutiny and consideration as that of other farmed animals, taking these animals into account as individuals and not just as a group. Specific regulations for species, life stages and the environments in which they are kept could be put in place to better address animal welfare. To achieve this, five key pillars of action are needed. Aquatic animals should be provided with an environment that meets the particular ethological needs of their species in a manner similar to that in the wild in their natural habitat. Appropriate feeding is essential; insufficient quantities of food or inappropriate foodstuffs can lead to poor health and welfare. Stocking density should be appropriate to the species and life stage to avoid negative physical, psychological and behavioural impacts on the fish. Water quality should be checked very regularly, including oxygen levels and hydrogen potential. Last, all fish should be effectively stunned, without regaining consciousness before slaughter. Also, there are other essential concerns such as modes of transport and medical treatment. Therefore, he asks the government to set out its intentions regarding the implementation of welfare regulations specific to farmed fish.

Answer: Improving the living conditions of farmed fish is a necessity, both because it meets a strong public expectation and because the animals' welfare has a direct impact on their health and guarantees the quality of the products offered to consumers. In recent years, professional fish farmers have undertaken several actions to improve the welfare of their fish. Thus, in 2018, following the "Etats généraux de l'alimentation", professionals in the sector drew up the first industry plan for sea fishing, and the products from fish farming and shellfish farming. This sector plan, with particular input from the CIPA (Interprofessional Committee for Aquaculture Products), identifies the welfare of farmed fish as one of the sector's priority issues where efforts must continue to be made. Action 9 of the sector plan "Develop research on animal welfare and the sharing of good practice in this regard" echoes this commitment. Work will focus on researching and formalising new animal welfare indicators and on the creation of a tool to help manage animal welfare on farms by identifying good practices. This objective is included in the national strategic plan for sustainable aquaculture, which is currently being revised. In addition, in February 2019, the "Fish Welfare" platform was created, co-led by the French Reference Centre for Animal Welfare and CIPA. The aim is also to work on the definition of welfare indicators, by species and by farming system. Work is also being carried out to objectivise the effects of density and to evaluate slaughter methods. Two projects were able to start in early 2020: the first welfare indicators are being tested and an evaluative survey of practices is being carried out to identify those that are potentially critical. At the same time, actions to raise awareness among professionals are being carried out, along with experiments on environmental enrichment. In addition, the issue of farmed fish welfare has been included in the fisheries and aquaculture section of the government's recovery plan. The dissemination and sharing of knowledge, particularly in the field of animal welfare in aquaculture, is one of this plan's objectives. At European level, the welfare of farmed fish has already been the subject of two European Commission reports: the first in September 2017, "Welfare of farmed fish: current practices during transport and slaughter" and the second in March 2018, "Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the possibility of introducing certain requirements regarding the protection of fish at the time of killing". Since 2018, this issue has also been addressed within the framework of a voluntary initiative by members of the European platform for Animal Welfare. It is in this context and taking into account these previous recommendations that the strategic guidelines for the development of sustainable European aquaculture were drawn up and published on 12 May 2021, which will be used in particular to guide the support provided to the aquaculture sector by the future European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). This European fund will be implemented at national level at the beginning of 2022.