FARM ANIMALS

deserve a little more compassion

There is evidence from some species of fish, cephalopods and decapod crustaceans of substantial perceptual ability, pain and adrenal systems, emotional responses, long- and short-term memory, complex cognition, individual differences, deception, tool use, and social learning. The case for protecting these animals would appear to be substantial.

Don Broom
Professor of Animal Welfare, Cambridge University

Higher welfare alternatives

Higher welfare farmed fish

Fish can be farmed more humanely than conventional intensive farming. Some standards exist to improve the welfare of farmed fish. In the UK these include the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme and the own label standards of some supermarkets.

Some farmed fish are given organic status. Contrary with organic standards for other animals, fish may still be confined in cages. However organic farmed fish benefit from more space and a requirement to use humane slaughter methods. In addition, Soil Association organic standards limit starvation and ensure that wild fish used to feed farmed fish must be caught sustainably.

Wild salmon swims upstream

Wild, caught fish

Wild, caught fish offer an alternative to farmed fish. They avoid many of the welfare problems of rearing fish in cages but are still largely slaughtered by inhumane methods. The sustainability of wild fish stocks is under serious threat. Wild fish from sustainable stocks are available - for more information visit www.msc.org.

Find out you how you can help limit the suffering of farmed fish.

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