Farmed fish welfare

This report presents the findings of a two-year European Commission study examining how Member States and Norway address the welfare of farmed fish, including recent developments and future plans. It highlights the growing importance of aquaculture within the EU food system while noting increasing concerns about fish welfare across the production cycle. 

The study finds that most countries lack specific legislation and give limited priority to fish welfare, with official controls often insufficient or inconsistent, particularly at farm and slaughter levels. While some good practices, research initiatives, and monitoring technologies are emerging, their application remains uneven. 

Overall, the report underscores significant gaps in regulation, enforcement, and awareness, and calls for stronger controls, clearer welfare standards, and improved use of data and training to ensure better outcomes for farmed fish.