Farmed fish feel pain, stress and anxiety and must be killed humanely, global regulator accepts

Aquaculture Stewardship Council's new standards put pressure on the UK to extend its animal welfare laws to fisheries

One of the world's leading organisations for farmed seafood is to introduce new welfare rules after accepting fish can feel pain, stress and anxiety".

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), which oversees a global certification scheme for farmed fish, is consulting on new draft welfare standards, including more humane slaughter practices. The ASC provides certification labelling for British supermarket fish, from sea bass to smoked salmon.