As the demand for healthier and more sustainable food options surges worldwide, a significant trend is emerging in the food industry. Notably, companies across the globe are increasingly committing to the humane and ethical treatment of farm animals in their supply chain, influencing both market trends and consumer expectations. In fact, consumers have indicated a willingness to pay more for products from companies with better farm animal welfare practices, objecting to the inhumane treatment of animals being reared for meat.
Seafood welfare is less spoken about — but no less pressing. Reports show that almost half of the seafood consumed today is derived from farms. Seafood farming — or aquaculture, as it is more commonly known — is the fastest-growing food production system in the world, according to the World Wide Fund (WWF).
Data from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization indicates that approximately 177.8 million tonnes of fish are produced for human consumption (including that of non-food uses like fishmeal or fish oil) per year. Still, there are no clear figures on the total number of fish killed. It is estimated that the number of fish killed on an average day is around 211 million — making this similar to the number of chickens killed per day. However, some researchers believe that the daily death count is almost twice as high.
The same researchers write that inhumane slaughter practices often cause suffering for farmed fish, with 70-72% having no legal welfare protection. Less than 1% have fish-specific legal protection when it comes to slaughter. This is concerning given that fish have been shown to experience pain and stress. Fewer studies have been conducted on crustaceans, but those available show that crabs, prawns and more can feel pain, too.
What standards are set in place for seafood welfare?
Despite a growing wealth of evidence that fish and crustaceans are sentient and feel pain, seafood welfare is largely excluded from detailed animal welfare legislations. Therefore, both wild and farmed fish and crustaceans are often subject to inhumane treatment when being prepared for human consumption.
Farmed fish, for example, are subject to:
- Overcrowding: Being confined to a small area and thus being more susceptible to disease, stress and physical injuries such as fin damage, especially for larger fish such as salmon
- Starvation: Food can be withheld from farmed fish for two weeks or more before transport, grading or slaughter
- Unethical slaughter: Methods include gassing with carbon dioxide, cutting the gills without stunning, being left to suffocate in air, or being processed while still alive.
Crustaceans are similarly mistreated. They are often kept in crowded conditions such as tanks and are subject to various slaughter methods including but not limited to: being boiled alive, slowly suffocating whilst completely immobilised in pre-packed clingfilm, having limbs being pulled off while fully conscious, and more.
Some countries such as New Zealand and Norway have included seafood, including fish, crustaceans and other sea creatures, in their animal welfare acts. Norway, for example, dictates that animals must be treated well “and be protected from danger of unnecessary stress and strains”. This includes keeping animals — including seafood — in environments consistent with good welfare, prioritizing an animal’s natural behavior, and requiring animals to be stunned before being killed, ensuring loss of consciousness until death occurs.
For the most part, seafood welfare is being propelled by organizations. The RSPCA has a set of standards for husbandry practices, feeding, grading, transport, slaughter and more, though this is mostly limited to salmon. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has general guiding principles for fish welfare, including prioritizing their health, prohibiting certain slaughtering methods, transport and more. Said welfare principles also cover crustaceans, to a lesser extent.
Ace Aquatech
Ace Aquatech is one such organization striving to improve standards for fisheries around the world. As an aquaculture technology company, it partners with renowned experts to apply technological developments to aquaculture and marine industries. A welfare-first approach is prioritized in this regard, with products designed to make fish farming more efficient and humane.
Its technology is being implemented by various fisheries around the world. Most recently, family-led trout fishery Piszolla adopted Ace Aquatech’s humane stunning system in its operations, marking the first installation of such a kind in Spain.
“The stunner is a standard A-HSU installed at the processing plant beside the ponds, from where fish are pumped into two raceways and then directly into the stunner, before being graded,” explained director of engineering Michael Rennie.
Tesco
Tesco is a leading multinational retailer, with more than 330,000 colleagues and carrying out business through its multi-format stores and online. The company has recently updated its animal welfare policy to include farmed decapod crustaceans, such as shrimp and crab. This applies to all Tesco products including fresh, frozen, canned and pre-prepared crustaceans.
Commitments from the company include:
- Prohibiting the sale of live decapod crustaceans in stores or online
- Ensuring 100% of its suppliers comply with recognized farm assurance schemes, such as the ASC, Global GAP or BAP 4
- Ensuring 100% of farmed Penaeus vannamei are electrically stunned by 2026
AEON Malaysia
AEON Malaysia is known for its wide range of products and services, operating numerous hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores throughout the country. It is part of the global AEON Group based in Japan.
The company has a detailed animal welfare policy which includes the welfare of fish and seafood. It requires all suppliers or farmed and wild-caught fish and seafood products to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), ASC or equivalent and to follow World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.
Suppliers must further perform daily monitoring of the seafood’s living conditions, including that of water temperatore, flow, oxygen and more, prevent and treat disease outbreaks, and keep stocking densities at levels that do not harm their welfare.
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