A TURNING TIDE: FISH WELFARE GAINS GROUND IN EU POLICY AND SCIENCE

A Turning Tide: Fish welfare gains ground in EU policy and science.

By Christine Xu, Head of Fisheries Welfare.

For decades, EU fisheries management has focused on catch quotas and economic sustainability, yet one crucial element has been overlooked: the welfare of the fish themselves.

That is now beginning to change.

From advisory councils to scientific institutions and now EU-wide policy frameworks, fish welfare is finally making its way into the mainstream of European ocean governance.

PelAC: Pioneering Progress in EU Fisheries Policy

Several advisory councils provide guidance to the European Commission on fishing and aquaculture regulations. One of these councils, the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC), is playing a crucial role in leading fish welfare discussions by providing recommendations on management strategies for pelagic fisheries such as herring and mackerel. Many members of PelAC have been progressive leaders in the fishing industry, providing an open, collaborative space where diverse stakeholders can engage in meaningful dialogue.

As Aquatic Life Institute’s Head of Fisheries, I joined the council in 2023 and, by the following year, was able to work with fellow members to establish an official focus group on fish welfare—an unprecedented achievement for an EU advisory council on fisheries. Their willingness to address emerging issues such as  fish welfare speaks to their role in shaping the future of sustainable fisheries.

As its first initiative, our focus group promptly sent a formal letter to the European Commission on the importance of involving PelAC in any development of fish welfare policies. This wasn’t just about making a statement—it was about getting this conversation beyond the advisory level and onto the desks of decision-makers.

ICES: Science Steps Up

Meanwhile, the scientific community is also making bold strides. At the 2024 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Congress, fish welfare was included for the first time ever as a dedicated topic—receiving an entire half-day panel slot, where I presented on how humane capture fisheries align with SDG14 and other sustainability goals. This acknowledgment by ICES, a leading European authority on marine science, reflects growing recognition that welfare and sustainability are deeply interconnected.

The momentum carried into ICES’ newly released 2025 Science Plan, where animal welfare is now formally included in two key thematic areas for the first time:

1. Observation and exploration of the ocean: developing and applying ethical standards in biological sampling.
2. Food from the sea: assessing animal welfare in both capture fisheries and aquaculture.

This marks a powerful shift in how marine research institutions approach the ethics of ocean resource use.

The EU Ocean Pact: A Policy Commitment to Welfare

Most recently, following input from Aquatic Life Institute and PelAC, the European Commission confirmed that animal welfare will be a component of the forthcoming EU Ocean Pact  – a major initiative to redefine EU ocean governance. The Ocean Pact aims to create a holistic framework for managing marine resources across environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

The Commission’s acknowledgment of animal welfare in this high-level policy declaration is unprecedented. For the first time, the EU is committing to integrating welfare considerations into fisheries and ocean governance at the strategic level.

What’s Next?

All three developments—the PelAC Focus Group, ICES’ new science plan, and the EU Ocean Pact—show a growing consensus in the EU across policy, science, and advocacy: fish welfare matters. It’s not a fringe concern, but a necessary element of any truly sustainable seafood system.

Public sentiment supports this evolution. A 2024 European Parliament Resolution backed the inclusion of aquatic animal welfare in the next Common Fisheries Policy, and polls show that over 90% of EU citizens believe fish should receive legal protection on par with land animals.

At Aquatic Life Institute, we remain committed to pushing this momentum forward. Through ongoing dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and science-based advocacy, we are helping reshape how Europe views and treats aquatic life. Because a responsible fishery is not just about how many fish are left—but also how those fish live and die.

About Christine Xu

Christine is the Head of Fisheries Welfare at Aquatic Life Institute, where she leads ALI’s efforts in advocating for improved animal welfare standards in capture fisheries with international institutions and the private sector.

Christine has extensive experience in international ocean conservation, having worked with major NGOs in Washington, DC, including using geospatial technology to track fishing vessels and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Originally from Tianjin, China, Christine grew up in California and now resides in Spain. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees from UC San Diego and a master’s degree in Corporate Responsibility from EOI Business School in Madrid.