Over 20 NGOs ask for better welfare standards for fish

Aquatic animals are essential to keeping our marine ecosystems healthy, and are under enormous threats from human activities, such as intensive fish farming and industrial-scale fishing. Moreover, aquatic animals, who are sentient beings and can feel pain and suffer, are rarely protected by animal welfare laws. To preserve aquatic animals and marine ecosystems, over 20 ocean conservation and animal welfare organizations, including Sinergia Animal, have signed an open letter urging consumers to play a more active role.

Annually, around 100 billion aquatic animals are farmed with a further 2-3 trillion caught in the wild to satiate our growing demand for seafood. In wild fisheries, 93.8% are being fished either at or over the absolute maximum sustainable limit to prevent their populations from crashing. Meanwhile, farmed fisheries still heavily rely on wild fish, as roughly ⅓ to ½ of all wild-caught fish are used as feed for aquaculture. To advocate for these voiceless animals, the Aquatic Life Institute founded multi-stakeholder coalitions, including the Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA) and the Coalition for Aquatic Conservation (CAC), to speak on their behalf. Alongside the ongoing campaign of advocating for high welfare standards from product certification schemes, the Institute is asking for consumers to be an active contributor to the movement and present the ways in which they can support aquatic animals and our oceans in our joint statement.

“While our alliances are working with certification schemes to improve, consumers can undertake simple actions to support these efforts and increase public pressure for higher protections for aquatic animals. As consumer awareness grows about the suffering of farmed fish and the decline of wild fish populations, we are confident that more certifiers will work with us to build a truly humane and sustainable food production system,” states Catalina Lopez Salazar, Director of the AAA.

Currently, 70% of adults surveyed in Europe are under the false impression that seafood sustainability labels, by default, include the humane treatment of aquatic animals. This is why the Alliance is working with seafood certification schemes from around the world to ensure that the individuals farmed under those regulations are protected by science-backed welfare standards. To date, three certifiers have responded positively to the joint public comments. But more needs to be done, and fast.

“Consumers have both a choice and immense purchasing power at their disposal to help save our oceans. This includes reducing or eliminating their consumption of aquatic animals, changing the type of aquatic animals they consume, and demanding higher standards from certifiers. In the near future, having more certifiers with high and consistent welfare standards is a win-win for marine ecosystems and aquatic animal welfare alike,” states Christine Xu, Director of the CAC.

Signatories:

Aquatic Life Institute

A Plastic Ocean Foundation

Advocating Wild

Animal Nepal

Alianima

Asociación para el rescate y bienestar de los animales

Catholic Concern for Animals

Change For Animals Foundation

Compassion in World Farming

Conservative Animal Welfare

Equalia

Essere Animali

Fish Welfare Initiative

Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy

Humane Society International

Mercy for Animals

Montreal SPCA

Nurture Imvelo

OceanHero.today

Protección Animal Ecuador

Sibanye Trust

Sinergia Animal

The Humane League

Full letter available here: https://ali.fish/blog/consumers-are-a-key-player-in-improving-aquatic-animal-welfare