Forgotten Lives: Why Fish Welfare Deserves Urgent Attention

When we think about animal welfare, most of us picture dogs, cats, or perhaps farm animals like pigs and cows. But what about fish? Despite being the most farmed vertebrate in the UK — with over 77 million salmon and trout raised in aquaculture each year — fish are often left out of welfare conversations.

At Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, we care deeply about the overlooked and the forgotten. Fish may not bleat, bark, or whinny, but science is clear: they feel pain, stress, and fear. Their welfare matters.

Life in the Water: Hidden Suffering

The public rarely sees how farmed fish live. Behind supermarket packaging and restaurant menus lies a world of overcrowded sea pens and inland tanks. Welfare challenges include:

• Overcrowding — high stocking densities increase stress, aggression, and disease outbreaks.

• Parasites & Illness — sea lice infestations cause suffering, yet chemical treatments used to control them bring their own welfare risks.

• Transport Stress — fish are often crowded into tanks for long journeys with minimal regulation.

• Slaughter Methods — some fish are still killed by suffocation in air or ice, a slow and distressing death.

Imagine being crammed into a small space, unable to escape aggression or disease, then transported long distances in poor conditions — it’s a reality millions of fish face daily.

Beyond Fish: The Forgotten Plight of Prawns

And it’s not just fish. Millions of prawns are also farmed or imported into the UK every year, often under conditions that raise serious welfare and ethical concerns. Many prawn farms rely on eye-stalk ablation — a painful practice where one or both eyes are cut or crushed to increase egg production. Like fish, prawns are sentient animals capable of feeling stress and discomfort, yet they remain almost invisible in welfare legislation.

What You Can Do for Prawns
When shopping or eating out, ask where prawns come from and avoid those linked to intensive farming or eye-stalk ablation practices. Choosing certified higher-welfare or plant-based alternatives sends a powerful message to suppliers. You can also support campaigns urging the UK government to include crustaceans in animal welfare legislation — helping ensure prawns, like fish, are finally given the legal protection they deserve.

A Step Forward — But Not Enough

There has been some progress. The RSPCA and animal welfare groups are calling for tighter enforcement of humane slaughter methods, such as percussive or electrical stunning. Scotland — home to the majority of UK salmon farming — has started to introduce welfare guidelines.

But voluntary codes are not enough. Without proper legal protection and regular inspections, fish — and prawns — will continue to suffer in silence. Unlike farmed mammals and birds, aquatic animals are still often excluded from meaningful policy debates.

Why Sanctuaries Should Speak Out

At Hopefield, we believe every life deserves compassion — whether fur, feathers, or fins. Sanctuaries may not house fish and prawns in large numbers, but we can help by:

• Raising awareness that aquatic animals feel pain and deserve welfare protections.

• Supporting stronger laws for humane treatment during farming, transport, and slaughter.

• Encouraging compassionate choices — from reducing seafood consumption to buying only from welfare-certified sources.

How You Can Help

• Learn & Share: Talk to friends and family about fish and prawn sentience and welfare.

• Support Campaigns: Add your voice to petitions calling for legal protections for aquatic animals.

• Make Ethical Choices: Consider plant-based alternatives, or if you eat seafood, choose sources that commit to higher welfare standards.

Conclusion

Fish and prawns may not be fluffy or cuddly, but their lives matter just as much as any other animal’s. As the most farmed animals in the UK, they deserve a seat at the welfare table.

By shining a light on their suffering — and pushing for stronger laws — we can ensure that millions of silent, unseen lives are treated with the dignity and care they deserve.