Animal category: Fish

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, Exotic pets, 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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Humane stunning or stun/killing in the slaughter of wild-caught finfish: The scientific evidence base

James KL, Aparicio SP, Jayasuriya NS, Herath TK, Lines J, Sneddon LU, Amarasinghe US, Randall NP

Published in 2025

Review article on methods of stunning and/or killing wild-caught fish. The authors highlight the urgent need for research into humane stunning methods that are better adapted to the needs of each species and that can be performed under the conditions found in commercial fishing.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Fish Welfare in the Ornamental Trade: Stress Factors, Legislation, and Emerging Initiatives

Maia, C.M., Gauy, A.C.d.S., Gonçalves-de-Freitas, E.

Published in 2025

Review of the trade in ornamental fish, who are exposed to numerous stressors throughout the supply chain, from wild capture or aquaculture to their final destination. Despite the work of some groups, legislative frameworks and welfare standards are still required to improve their living conditions in a sustainable way.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Precision farming in aquaculture: non-invasive monitoring of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) behaviour in response to environmental conditions in commercial sea cages for health and welfare assessment

Burke Meredith, Nikolic Dragana, Fabry Pieter, Rishi Hemang, Telfer Trevor, Rey Planellas Sonia

Published in 2025

Study analyzing the swimming behavior of salmon in captivity using a computer vision algorithm. The results reveal that their vertical distribution varies according to temperature and weather conditions, suggesting directions for the improvement of management and welfare in aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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The Protection of Selectively Bred and Gene Edited Farm Animals under EU Law

Ilaria Cimadori, Alice Di Concetto, Khara Grieger

Published in 2025

Article examining the ethical and regulatory issues surrounding the use of genome-editing technologies in animal breeding, compared with traditional selection methods. It highlights inconsistencies in the current European framework and calls for animal welfare regulation for all selection methods. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

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L’enrichissement du milieu de vie

Céline Tallet and Violaine Colson

Published in 2025

Article on environmental enrichment in captive animals. Conditions in captivity restrict the satisfaction of animals' physiological and ethological needs. Lack of stimulation and stressful practices can be detrimental to their welfare and affect the quality of scientific research carried out on these animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Rodents, Poultry

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A Guide on Fish Welfare in Spanish Aquaculture - Volume 4: Welfare of rainbow trout

APROMAR

Published in 2025

Guide published by the Spanish aquaculture industry, describing the best practices to ensure rainbow trout welfare. It proposes specific indicators appropriate to each farming phase, while emphasizing the importance of training, sustainability and a stronger legal framework.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Fish

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Social learning and cultural enrichment for fish welfare

Chiaowen Chiang and Becca Franks

Published in 2024

Opinion piece advocating greater consideration of the socio-cultural complexity of fish to improve their welfare in zoos and aquariums.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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The Treatment of Farmed Fish under EU Law

Alice Di Concetto, Anatole Poinsot, Wasseem Emam, Carlos Vera

Published in 2025

Summary of European legislation on aquaculture, mainly on farmed fish. Although the public has become aware of the issue of welfare in aquaculture, the European legislators have yet to pass a new law. This article summarizes current EU legislation, including voluntary standards developed in certain countries.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Societal issues, Livestock farming system

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