World Oceans Day: Why is Aquatic Animal Welfare Crucial in Ocean Conservation Strategies?
This year for World Oceans day, the Aquatic Animal Alliance is highlighting the importance of aquatic animal welfare interventions in ocean conservation. Animals have long been excluded from policies, strategies and conversations related to conserving ocean and aquatic ecosystems.
We interviewed some of the members of our alliance on this topic.
Dr. Elena Lara, Research Manager for Compassion in World Farming
What are the benefits of including aquatic animal welfare interventions in fisheries and aquaculture to improve ocean conservation strategies?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda makes conservation and sustainability of marine resources a global priority, as along with food security, responsible consumption and production and ending malnutrition. It is also noteworthy that we are approaching or crossing some of the planetary boundaries (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, biodiversity loss or climate change)(1). Aquaculture has the potential to aid the SDGs important objectives, but it is often unsustainable, degrading, or destroying coastal habitats and polluting the marine environment with effluent organic and toxic waste(2), therefore adding pressure to planetary boundaries. Moreover, aquaculture has not properly addressed animal welfare considerations during its development, but it is linked to ethical, environmental, and social issues. Increasing intensive production in the aquaculture sector impacts both the ecosystems and animal welfare. For example, poor animal welfare resulting from high stocking density and inefficient feeding can cause toxic wastewater from fish farms(3). Disease outbreaks in fish farms are linked to poor health, nutrition, and rearing conditions(4). Poorly regulated aquaculture might also result in widespread use of antibiotics, leading to antibiotic resistance in bacteria(5). Pathogens and parasites can spread outside of the farm, damaging local fish populations and ecosystems. Therefore, in addition to reducing fish suffering, aquatic animal welfare policies can play a significant role in solving many of the sustainability issues that arise from intensive aquaculture. Higher welfare standards in production systems means less pollution, healthier fish, reduced need for antibiotics, and improved global food security. Animal welfare needs to be addressed and included in the policies and strategies for a truly sustainable development of aquaculture.
What are some of the most harmful impacts of poor animal welfare practices of the aquaculture and fishing industries on the oceans?
There are several and important animal welfare issues involved in the fisheries industry and aquaculture that impact not only the well-being of the animals involved in these practices, but also the oceans. Fish caught from the wild suffer immensely during the processes of catching, landing, and killing. Industrial fishing methods catch fish in huge numbers at a time. When hundreds of thousands of fish are caught – for example, in a purse seine net or trawling net – they are intensely crowded during capture, then packed tightly together as they are hauled to the surface of the water. Fish will be damaged (e.g., physical abrasions, compression, bursting of internal organs due to sudden pressure changes) and stressed during this process. A significant proportion will die, crushed under the weight of other fish in the nets. For fish that survive capture and landing (being brought aboard the vessel), there is usually no slaughter method; they are simply left to asphyxiate or may die during processing(6). Therefore, fisheries severely compromise the welfare of the animals that are targeted for their capture. However, during that process other animals that are not targeted by fisheries can also be victims of the nets and suffer immensely. There is the issue of bycatch and ghost gear: non-targeted fish species, mammals and birds, which die slow deaths, or are injured during capture and release. Bycatch and ghost gear is also an environmental issue since affect marine biodiversity contributing to population declines, and impeding population recovery(7,8).
Bottom trawling is also worth mentioning as one of the highest destructive fishing methods that also involves huge animal suffering. It entails dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor, in an effort to catch fish in a destructive and non-selective way, whose impacts on the deep-sea marine biodiversity and ecosystems are massive(9). Moreover, bottom trawling affects the carbon that has been stored for millennia in the sediment contributing to the release of carbon(10) and therefore, to climate change.
Finally, when talking about animal welfare and conservation issues related to fisheries, we cannot forget about fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) fisheries. Based on FAO fisheries capture tonnages, together with estimated mean weights for fish species, it is predicted that a staggering 0.5–1 trillion fish caught each year(11) are destined to be reduced to ingredients to feed farmed animals. These fish will endure profound suffering throughout the procedures of capture and killing as previously mentioned but the use of FMFO is supporting the rise of intensive aquaculture, keeping fish in systems which are essentially underwater factory farms. Annually, 52Mt of fish (48–160 billion fish) are produced in farms worldwide(12).
In intensive fish farms, high stocking densities are the norm, and fish are kept in barren environments which can lead to high stress, aggression and resultant injuries, and the risk of disease transmission increases(13). Fish are often exposed to extremely stressful handling procedures and the vast majority of fish farmed around the globe are killed using inhumane slaughter practices(14).
The increase in global aquaculture is compromising the future of forage fish populations, which play a key role in the marine environment(15). Animal welfare in fish farms is a major problem and is starting to gain more attention in research, policy and the media. However, the hidden layer to this animal welfare crisis – the welfare of wild-caught fish destined for fish feed – is often overlooked. Together, these industries lead to immense suffering for a startling number of animals.
Joseph Odika, Founder and CEO of Animal Protection Organization Nigeria
Why has animal welfare been ignored in most strategies and policies regarding conservation?
It provides climate regulation, food, jobs, livelihoods, and economic progress. Thus, we must work together to protect and save the ocean for the sake of our future survival on this planet. It's imperative to note that more marine life may face extinction if proper and adequate welfare measures are not in place for fisheries and aquaculture. If the marine species population diminishes, people may face hunger and job loss, because the ocean is estimated to have contributed to over 50 million jobs and supports global economic growth.
In addition to this, food safety is central to marine welfare interventions. Food of marine origin is safe when adequate welfare measures are guaranteed. When the ocean becomes contaminated with pollutants, it can impair a fish's wholesomeness and become a health issue if such fish is eaten.
Above all, a healthy ecosystem of fish diversity is guaranteed when a robust welfare measure is put in place for fisheries and aquaculture.
How can stakeholders include animal welfare in the conversations regarding ocean conservation?
By establishing a platform for public and private sector partnership, where actionable plans like aquatic animal welfare policy can be constructed and implemented. This is a key intervention in the quest for animal welfare. Consumer groups, civil societies, and local community participation is an added advantage.
What are the benefits of including aquatic animal welfare interventions in fisheries and aquaculture to improve ocean conservation strategies?
Animal welfare has been ignored in most strategies and policies due to the following reasons: Political landscapes, personal gains, lack of structure and development. Politics has always been a hindrance in policy formulation. Inter-party politics is a recurrent phenomenon that finds expression in different forms and at different stages in the process of democratization or policy formulation due to mixed interests. Due to conflicting interests, strong policies are difficult to make at the end of the process. In a situation where strong policies are made, the same inter-party policies hinders the implementation of such policies.
Secondly, most lawmakers are business people. They don't welcome policies that may distort their business gains. For this reason, they turn a blind eye to sincere policies and make policies that will not affect them.
Lastly, a country without a good developmental structure for its people cannot excel in other areas of development. In a situation where there is a good development structure where everyone respects values and ethics, such societies are bound to experience good economic growth driven by compassion and respect for all. If there is a good structure for animal welfare embedded in a society, then, the issue of animal welfare advocacy will not come up in the first place.
Miriam Martinez, Fish welfare manager at Equalia
Ocean conservation has gained much attention in the last few years, which is something to celebrate. However, the connection between conservation and animal welfare has not been addressed enough. There are not many published examples about welfare interventions generating positive changes to the ocean. It happens especially with aquatic animals, as their welfare has been ignored for years, and the spread of aquaculture has occurred more recently than for the rest of livestock. Society is still unaware of the farming conditions of fish and other aquatic animals or their suffering under human care.
In the case of fish farming, there is a lot to improve in order to avoid this sector’s impact on the oceans. Fish farms could diminish pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, antibiotics and other chemical use by reducing stocking densities and stress. Ocean acidification caused by the carbon emissions of fishing boats could also be lower if carnivorous fish (fed with FMFO, Fish Meal and Fish Oil) were substituted for low-trophic species. Or if those fish had improved welfare, as they would have a better feed conversion rate and less mortality, meaning less FMFO would be required. FMFO has a well-known impact on fish stock reduction (due to massive fishing) and other species’ population reduction and extinction. Ocean wildlife gets hurt or killed also by the effects of bottom trawling or ghost gears, for example.
Biodiversity loss can occur as a consequence of disease dissemination too. Ill fish crowded in sea cages or escaped from those farms can introduce pathogens into wildlife. Parasite levels and disease prevalence are directly related to welfare regarding health control and chronic stress factors: challenging rearing conditions and restricted behavioral opportunities on farms lead to immunosuppression, which makes it easier to get ill and for pathogens to multiplicate. The spread to others is guaranteed when a fish is infected within those stocking densities.
Finally, if governmental bodies and public policies or recommendations gave strong attention to fish welfare, society would change its vision around aquatic living beings. Their respect for aquatic ecosystems would grow, and individuals and companies would put more effort into applying sustainable practices to protect the environment and oceans.
A holistic view of our environment and social systems can provide solutions that benefit animals, humans and the planet.
Upasana Sarraju, Communications Lead at Fish welfare Initiative
What are the benefits of including aquatic animal welfare interventions in fisheries and aquaculture to improve ocean conservation strategies?
Firstly, doing so aligns human interests with those of marine beings, fostering sustainable and mutually beneficial practices that can help maintain healthy populations of aquatic animals and protect their overall wellbeing. Looking at species-specific needs also sharpens our understanding of how much further we have to go.
We believe that framing welfare interventions as better alternatives to harmful and unethical practices can lead to a more sustainable change in the industry. The impacts of such changes are far-reaching, environmentally-speaking.
Second, merging welfare ideologies and ocean conservation reduces the current pressure on ocean conservationists to find niche solutions to expansive, systemic problems.
In many ways, conservation inherently pays attention to animal welfare: by protecting an animal’s marine environment, focusing on marine biodiversity, looking at long-term effects as well as the short-term effects of changes, investigating interrelatedness of biological phenomena, and so much more, all at once.
Third, welfare work includes awareness and education. If we were able to enhance awareness of how animals live in industry conditions, we would be well-placed to enhance public knowledge and change the perceptions of “consumers” toward the reality of industrial farming.
If sustainable practices that prioritize animal welfare become the norm (which is one goal of animal welfare), it would signal an important shift in what people are willing to accept from fisheries and aquaculture industries. A reduced demand for marine products or an increased demand for ethically-sourced products would compliment conservation efforts. Ultimately, human action is at the source of the problem and human action is an important part of the solution.
How can stakeholders include animal welfare in the conversations regarding ocean conservation?
We have found that engaging with policymakers, industry leaders, and community leaders can be typically a drawn-out, often frustrating effort, with little to no payoff in the short-term. But stakeholder engagement is extremely important to catalyze a paradigm shift. Stakeholders can emphasize the importance of considering animal welfare in decision-making processes. They can influence policies, drive local or global change, and create a more compassionate and inclusive approach to ocean conservation.
In animal welfare, as in conservation, collaboration is key. A strong stakeholder group is a diverse group; it includes animal welfare advocates, scientists, farmers, community members, etc. This not only helps us deepen our understanding of the issues, it makes sure each group feels represented, heard, and respected.
Why has animal welfare been ignored in most strategies and policies regarding conservation?
Historically, preserving habitats, species diversity, and farming industry economy have been considered important, with less attention given to the welfare of individual animals. This can be attributed to a lack of awareness, limited research, and a human-centric worldview. And it is reflected in our policies and societal norms.
More often than not, animal welfare is also overshadowed by the urgency of human health, immediate environmental threats, and societal failures like poverty and preventable disease. While these issues are undeniably crucial, incorporating animal welfare into these related efforts allows us to tackle the health, environment, ecosystem, and ethical dimensions simultaneously.
What are some of the most harmful impacts of poor animal welfare practices of the aquaculture and fishing industries on the oceans?
Overfishing, destructive fishing methods, and excessive use of nets and traps lead to substantial bycatch. When non-target species, including endangered ones, are caught and killed, marine ecosystems are disrupted, biodiversity is lost, and conservation efforts are pushed back by decades.
If animal welfare were incorporated into industry regulations, the interests and welfare of how these other species are trapped, treated, and released would also become a major priority, leading to stronger impacts of conservation efforts.
Animals in farms with low welfare conditions are overcrowded and suffer frequent disease outbreaks. Without proper welfare and medical education, we see excessive antibiotic use in such farms. This leads to higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that can cause widespread and irreversible harm to both farmed marine animals and wild marine animals. Farming industries can also introduce non-native species into the wild, threatening native marine populations and their genetic diversity. This also applies to wastewater and other wastes disposed from farms into natural water sources, including oceans.
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