Humane slaughter: fish have rights, too
At an event at the Scottish Parliament in January, campaigners made the case for enshrining fish welfare in legislation.
Farmed fish deserve the same level of statutory protection as farm animals on land – particularly when it comes to minimising suffering and distress at the time of slaughter.
That was the message at a reception held at the Scottish Parliament last month, attended by MSPs, campaigning organisations and representatives of the salmon industry including Scottish Sea Farms’ Ronnie Soutar, Iain Berrill of industry body Salmon Scotland and Andrew Davie of AquaScot, the seafood processor and retailer.
Guests at the reception, sponsored by Christine Grahame MSP, heard from organisations working to address the issue and also discussed the necessity for official guidance to support the industry to meet its legal obligations at every stage of farming and to enforce the law against those who break it.
The event was jointly organised by The Humane League UK, Animal Equality UK and The Animal Law Foundation and supported by Compassion in World Farming, The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, OneKind, Animal Concern, and Labour Animal Welfare Society.
Whereas farmed land animals are protected by laws which detail how each species should be killed in a minimally painful manner, with those who break these laws becoming liable for prosecution, farmed fish have no equivalent protections.
This is, the Humane League UK argues, despite consensus among scientists that fish can think and feel, including feel pain. An estimated 77 million fish are farmed and slaughtered in the UK annually, with the majority of these being Atlantic salmon farmed in Scotland. This makes fish the second largest group of farmed animals in the UK, after chickens.
As Georgie Hancock, Public Affairs Lead with the Humane League, puts it: “Sentience isn’t up for debate anymore.”
Polling data on public attitudes to the issue overwhelmingly supports this, she adds, and the Animal Welfare Committee, which advises both the Westminster and devolved governments, has been clear that fish are capable of experiencing pain and distress.
Animal welfare is a devolved issue. The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 was enacted to consolidate and update previous legislation concerning animal welfare and health.
It lays out guiding principles for the welfare of farmed fish: a duty of care laid on those responsible for farmed fish; prevention of unnecessary suffering; a duty to provide health and veterinary care; and a requirement to keep records and report to the authorities on issues such as mortalities and veterinary treatments.
In contrast with the regime for farmed land animals, however, the act does not spell out detailed requirements in the form of regulations. In practice, the salmon industry in Scotland operates to a voluntary code of practice, principally the code set out by RSPCA Assured. This mandates for example, that fish must be stunned prior to slaughter. The Humane League argues, however, that animal welfare is too important to be left to a code overseen and enforced on a voluntary basis alone.
It’s a view that the fish farming industry supports. At the Holyrood reception, Ronnie Soutar, Head of Veterinary Services at Scottish Sea Farms, said there was clear recognition within the sector that fish are sentient, and that legislation to protect their welfare at slaughter would be welcomed by the aquaculture industry.
The Humane League is calling for statutory regulations that would make it clear what the legal obligations are for farmers and processors, and for government guidance that sets out what good practice looks like in detail.
Following the Holyrood event, Sean Gifford, Managing Director of The Humane League UK, said: “It has been fantastic to get decision-makers round the table in Scotland, the heart of UK fish farming, and discuss the serious threats facing the welfare of farmed fish. Talk is good but action is what is needed, as Government committees have highlighted for decades the need to take fish welfare seriously. Fish can think and feel; and as fish farming continues to grow, failing to protect these sensitive animals becomes ever more unjustifiable.”
Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, commented: “These proposed laws are not only sensible, they are essential. Without clear guidelines, there will always be room for ambiguity in enforcing compliance in salmon abattoirs. This is not just a technicality; it’s a very real problem with potentially dire consequences.”
And Natasha Boyland, Senior Research and Policy Advisor (Aquatic Animals) at Compassion in World Farming, said: “It is vital that farmed fish – sentient animals who can feel pain and suffer – are given protection at the time of slaughter. This is in line with the Animal Welfare Committee’s recommendations and has strong industry support. Robust legislation to protect fish is long overdue but we are encouraged to be moving in the right direction.”
“Animal Equality’s investigations have uncovered distressing instances of fish suffering unnecessarily, from having their gills cut while conscious, to being clubbed or suffocating to death on boats. Without our documentation, I question whether these incidents would have been picked up or penalised. We must put in place proper legal protections and we must make them count. We owe it to the animals.”
Georgie Hancock is optimistic that this reform is achievable. She says: “We are hopeful. It’s an easy win for government and the industry is in agreement with it.”
Next year will see an election for the devolved Scottish Parliament, which does not allow much time for new legislation in the life of the current Parliament. It is possible, however, that guidance at least could be issued ahead of legislation being brought to Parliament.
This does appear to be an issue on which a consensus can be reached. As Hancock puts it: “The industry have been vocal supporters of this cause. It’s a topic with cross-sector support.”
The Humane League UK is a charity dedicated to ending the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of the world’s biggest companies, demanding legislation, and empowering others to take action and make more compassionate food choices. It has grown to become one of the most influential and respected organisations in the animal protection movement.
Since the League began operating in the UK in 2016, it has secured hundreds of commitments to improve the lives of animals raised for food. The organisation believes that by educating the public and working with businesses, they can create a world where animals are treated with respect and kindness.
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