Document type: Article on the CIWF (UK)
Author: CIWF
Preview: Earlier this week (27th September), we welcomed the publication by the Scottish Government of an expert Opinion, that makes clear recommendations to improve the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing. The Opinion written by the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), reiterates its core recommendations outlined almost 10 years ago.
Farmed fish are sentient too
The AWC recommends that as farmed fish are sentient creatures, they should receive the same legal protections at the time of slaughter as other land farmed animals. We are therefore urging Governments to include farmed fish in animal welfare legislation, without delay. As stated by the AWC, fish should be killed with humane methods, involving effective stunning before slaughter. Recommendations are also made for rules to reduce stress and suffering in the moments leading up to slaughter. The Opinion suggests legislation should extend to mandatory inspections, and suggests the use of CCTV monitoring, enforcing powers and penalties, and regular reviews and updates of voluntary code standards. It also recommends that the welfare of the millions of 'cleaner fish' used to remove lice from farmed salmon, and killed in the farming process, should also be covered.
Vast numbers of fish - simply forgotten
About 55 million fish are farmed each year in the UK - including 12 million trout in England. However, despite fish being recognised as sentient beings by the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, their protection is lagging behind. Experts have been recommending welfare improvements for many years, and the industry is largely supportive, but we are still waiting for action.
