ABSTRACT
Worldwide, approximately one trillion wild fish are captured every year, far outnumbering any terrestrial animal produced for food. There is extensive evidence that fish are sentient, yet public concern about fish welfare is far behind that of terrestrial animals. While the majority of a wild fish’s life may be near natural, its end is commonly exceptionally stressful, involving practices that would not be permitted in terrestrial production. The primary welfare concern is killing (which is rarely preceded by stunning), but processes before, during and after capture can lead to extreme stress, exhaustion, asphyxiation and physical injuries. Intentional mutilations may sometimes be inflicted. It is common for fish to die incidentally during capture. Bycatch (non-target) species that are inadvertently caught have a reduced chance of survival after being returned to the sea, and lost or discarded “ghost” fishing gear can continue to passively impact welfare of marine species for many years. With more attention being paid to the welfare aspects of commercial fishing, poor practices can be reduced and better practices promoted. This chapter describes the processes and hazards that wild fish are exposed to between their capture and death. Recommendations are made for strategies to decrease their unnecessary suffering.
