Animal category: Fish

Focusing on biological stimuli: a new framework for environmental enrichment in aquaculture and fisheries fields

Yijie He, Zonghang Zhang, Zhenghao Xiao, Bo Liang, Jiezhang Mo, Boshan Zhu, Wenhua Liu

Published in 2026

Scientific synthesis on environmental enrichment for captive fish. Enrichment enhances fish adaptability and welfare, but its development is hampered by methodological and conceptual limitations. The authors propose new theoretical and practical frameworks to strengthen scientific rigor and guide the design of multisensory enrichment, particularly biotic enrichment, in aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Mikkel Gunnes, Evelina A.L. Green, Inger Lise Andersen, Øyvind Øverli

Published in 2025

Identification of new behavioral indicators for stress in Atlantic salmon, notably bubble emission, which is a visible and sensitive marker that correlates to social aggression. This marker is more responsive than cortisol and could enable the automated detection of stress. improving welfare monitoring in aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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The road to reform: in support of a strong revision of animal transport rules

Gabriela Kubikova

Published in 2025

Guidance note on reforming European regulations on the transport of live animals

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Fish, Porcines, Poultry

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A functional framework for a comprehensive study of welfare in fishes

Alvarado Maria Victoria, Cerdá-Reverter Jose Miguel, Espigares Felipe

Published in 2025

Study proposing an integrative framework to assess fish welfare, combining physiological, behavioral and affective measurements that allow users to go beyond traditional approaches that focus  on biological disorders.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Blueprint for research to detect loss of consciousness and/or sensibility of fish at slaughter

Saraiva, J., Brijs, J., Cabrera-Álvarez, M. J., Arechavala-Lopez, P., & Gräns, A.

Published in 2024

Article highlighting the urgent need to develop more humane slaughter methods in aquaculture, as current practices (asphyxiation, refrigeration, gas) result in prolonged suffering for fish.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001689/25: Animal welfare standards in EU aquaculture to boost competitiveness and food security

question : Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Robert Biedroń (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Marianne Vind (S&D), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Maria Noichl (S&D), Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA), Günther Sidl (S&D), Per Clausen (The Left), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Alice Kuhnke (Greens/EFA), Pär Holmgren (Greens/EFA), Christel Schaldemose (S&D). Reply: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from th Commission to questions from a group of MEPs on the inclusion of aquatic animals in the new animal welfare regulations. The Commission states that aquatic animals will not be included in the forthcoming consultations. Instead, its chosen strategy is to improve the application of the existing rules and to make use of the work of EURCAW-Aqua to develop indicators and improve scientific and technical knowledge.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Crustaceans, Molluscs, Fish

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Balancing culinary excellence with ethical responsibility: A scientific perspective on animal welfare in gastronomy

Anastasio Argüello, Marta González-Cabrera, Antonio Morales-de la Nuez, Lorenzo E. Hernández-Castellano, Manuel Betancor-Sánchez, Noemí Castro

Published in 2025

Study analyzing animal welfare issues along the full length of the food chain, from breeding and rearing to culinary preparation. It highlights ethical tensions, innovations (lab-grown meat, plant-based alternatives, insects) and regulatory gaps. It proposes a roadmap to integrate animal welfare science into culinary training and promote the sustainable and responsible enjoyment of food.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Crustaceans, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

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Effects of music enrichment on the welfare of small ornamental fishes

Tianyu Niu, Bochun Xiang, Puyi Huang, Xigui Yang, Longhui Chai

Published in 2025

Scientific article demonstrating that certain musical styles and tempi, notably slow guzheng (Chinese zither) music, reduce stress and cortisol levels in aquarium fish. Music can produce positive or negative behavior, depending on the species and the tempo. Slow guzheng music was found to be the most soothing of the styles in the experiment, especially for guppies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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Decree of June 19, 2025 laying down the animal health and protection rules to be met by activities involving domestic pets

Maud Faipoux

Published in 2025

This Order repeals that of April 3, 2014. It reinforces animal health and protection rules for pet-related activities, providing a clear and detailed regulatory framework for the activities of shelters, breeding establishments, educators and traders, taking into account the particular needs of each individual species. Health rules must now be instituted by all establishments. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Canine, Feline, NAC, Birds (excluding poultry), Fish, Rodents

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Quantifying the welfare impact of air asphyxia in rainbow trout slaughter for policy and practice

C. Schuck-Paim, W.J. Alonso, P.A. Pereira, J.L. Saraiva, M. Cerqueira, C. Chiang & L.U. Sneddon

Published in 2025

Study using the Welfare Footprint Framework to quantify the effectiveness of slaughter practices used on trout, by measuring the time spent by the fish in negative affective states. The study shows that electrical or percussive stunning can significantly reduce pain, providing evidence-grounded metrics to guide regulatory decisions.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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