Fish welfare becomes certifiable: The Fish Welfare Project by Friend of the Sea and the World Sustainability Foundation. Fish welfare is emerging as one of the most significant issues in the global food sector, at a time when more than half of the fish consumed worldwide now comes from intensive farming.
Experts point out that factors such as stocking density, water quality, stress management, and slaughter methods can significantly impact fish health and welfare.
The scientific debate on fish sentience
The scientific community is increasingly recognising fish as sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and stress. However, assessing their welfare remains more complex than it is for land animals, making the development of new indicators and analytical methods necessary.
Among the main concerns highlighted in the scientific literature are:
- Overcrowding in farming facilities
- An increased risk of disease and mortality
- Stress linked to capture, transport and handling
- Wide variability in environmental parameters
The Fish Welfare Project
It is in this context that the Fish Welfare Project, developed by Friend of the Sea together with the World Sustainability Foundation, takes shape. Launched in 2017, the initiative aims to make fish welfare a measurable, verifiable, and certifiable parameter and is supported by Open Philanthropy (now Coefficient Giving), one of the leading international philanthropic organisations.
The project is founded on the scientific assumption that fish are sentient beings and that their welfare represents a new frontier in the sustainability of the fisheries sector. The aim, therefore, is to translate scientific research into operational standards applicable to both aquaculture and fisheries to reduce stress, suffering, and mortality.
From research to practice: standards and implementation
The project is structured around two main lines of action.
Aquaculture
In collaboration with Fair Fish and Fish Etho Group, 24 species-specific standards have been developed, with criteria for assessing and improving farm welfare and for certifying companies that adopt compliant practices.
Fisheries
In collaboration with CCMAR, Fair Fish, Fish Etho Group and Demos (CareFish Catch project), five certification standards have been developed, applicable to both small-scale fisheries and large global fleets. The standards are based on the main fishing methods (nets, longlines, lines and other systems) and aim to reduce stress and injuries during capture.
Operational phase and impact
The Fish Welfare Project is now in its operational phase, with activities focused on testing standards, certifying companies and trialling improved practices.
In recent months, the project has entered a critical validation phase, with field trials launched directly at aquaculture farms as well as on fishing vessels and fleets.
To date, aquaculture companies in Italy and Albania have joined the initiative, along with operational fleets in Ecuador and Peru. According to estimates, the initiative could affect more than 2 million tonnes of annual fish production across both capture fisheries and aquaculture.
Thanks to the continued support of Coefficient Giving, activities over the next three years will focus on:
- Expanding field trials
- Certifying aquaculture farms and fishing operations
- Testing new equipment and materials
- Analysing fish welfare data
- Continuous improvement of the standards
- Raising consumer awareness
The ultimate goal is to make fish welfare a recognised international standard, integrated into sustainability certification systems.
A paradigm shift that could redefine the sustainability criteria of the entire sector in the years ahead.
About Friend of the Sea and the World Sustainability Foundation
Friend of the Sea is a project of the World Sustainability Organisation (WSO), dedicated to the certification of products and services that respect marine habitats and aquatic species. Seafood products and Omega-3 supplements from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture can be certified if they pass compliance audits against strict sustainability requirements. Audits are carried out by qualified auditors from independent certification bodies accredited at national level.
In 2022, to make its certification campaigns more effective, WSO launched its non-profit branch, the World Sustainability Foundation (WSF). The Foundation’s commitments include safeguarding natural resources and habitats, and protecting threatened species. The organisation operates through a network of institutions, research centres, universities and companies certified by Friend of the Sea® or Friend of the Earth®.
Image: Friend of the Sea