above: photo supplied by World Day for the End of Fishing
Life in these crowded environments is marked by stress, frustration, and aggression, leading to frequent injuries, flesh-eating parasites, and constant infections. Mortality rates often exceed those found in the worst factory farm operations.
Moreover, crustaceans and “higher value” aquatic species are typically carnivorous and are fed with small wild fish caught solely for processing into fish meal and oil.
above: An animation highlighting the plight of fish subjected to aquaculture
Prior to slaughter, farmed fish may be subjected to stunning methods such as blunt force, electrocution, or water saturation in CO2. These methods, however, can often leave the fish conscious and in pain. European authorities have deemed water saturation as “inhumane,” while electrocution can result in up to 10% of animals remaining fully conscious. Many fish are simply left to suffocate in open air, while others are bled and eviscerated while still alive.
The number of animals killed in fish farms surpasses those in land-based factory farms, including chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, calves, goats, and horses.
Without intervention, farmed fish production is projected to increase by 29 million metric tons in the next decade, subjecting countless more lives to this painful and cruel treatment.
The text for this article was adapted from World Day for the End of Fishing