For the World Day of the End of Fishing and Fish Farming, we are called to confront the hidden suffering of billions of fish and the urgent need for a transformative approach to aquaculture. 

Ending fish farming: an effective cause?

The World Day of the End of Fishing and Fish Farming is an opportunity to expose the suffering of billions of fish and push for change. Despite the staggering scale of industrial aquaculture, fish remain one of the most overlooked groups in the animal advocacy movement. Their suffering is immense, the issue is underfunded, and meaningful progress is within reach — which makes it a promising area for intervention.

The vast suffering of farmed fish

Fish are amongst the most exploited animals on the planet, yet they receive minimal attention in discussions about animal welfare. In Switzerland alone, 5 million fish are raised in aquaculture systems every year. Globally, fish farming slaughters over 130 billion individuals annually — a number that dwarfs the scale of suffering in land-based factory farming. These figures highlight the vast scope of this issue and the sheer number of lives affected. Addressing this crisis has the potential to reduce an enormous amount of suffering.

Scientific evidence has repeatedly shown that fish are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain. Many aquatic species also exhibit signs of cooperation and altruism, along with various cognitive capacities, including the capacity for pleasure — particularly through playful behaviours. Given the growing evidence of fish sentience, it is essential that they receive the same level of protection as other vertebrates. It is misleading to claim that inherent moral value is determined by similarity to humans. Marine animals’ ability to suffer should not be diminished by our speciesist biases.

An overlooked and understudied issue

Despite their vast numbers, farmed fish remain largely invisible in animal advocacy, research and policy discussions. Compared to mammals and birds, significantly fewer studies exist on their cognitive abilities and welfare needs. Even within the animal welfare movement, efforts to improve fish welfare receive disproportionately less funding and attention. This lack of focus extends to legal protections, as fish receive weaker regulatory safeguards than other farmed animals. Because of this, every additional resource dedicated to fish welfare has a much higher marginal impact than in other, more well-established areas of animal advocacy.

At Sentience, we are working to change this through our “Invisible Animals” Campaign, which sheds light on the suffering of overlooked animals like farmed fish. By amplifying awareness and pushing for stronger protections, we can close this critical gap in advocacy.

Realistic pathways to change

Some may argue that addressing fish farming is too difficult or complex. However, several promising interventions show that progress is achievable.

One major opportunity lies in alternative proteins. Plant-based fish products that offer a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional aquaculture are emerging on the market. Increasing investment in these alternatives can accelerate the transition away from farmed fish.

Another tractable avenue is policy change. As awareness of fish sentience grows, there is increasing potential to push for stronger fish welfare regulations. Even incremental improvements — such as banning the most extreme farming practices or reducing stocking densities — could significantly reduce suffering at scale. Just like the “Invisible Animals” Campaign, the World Day for the End of Fishing and Fish Farming raises awareness and brings visibility to the billions of fish suffering in silence. Many people simply do not think about fish suffering, but shifting perceptions has the power to drive demand for ethical alternatives and policy reform.

Time to act: a high-impact opportunity

Ending fish farming is not just an environmental or ethical issue — it is a promising high-impact intervention available to reduce suffering on a massive scale. As exemplified by the Shrimp Welfare Project, small but meaningful steps can improve the lives of billions of aquatic animals. The project highlights the often-overlooked suffering of farmed shrimps and advocates for better farming practices, more research, as well as stronger welfare standards. If we can make a difference for shrimps, we can certainly do the same for other marine farmed animals. Now is the time to push for these changes on a broader scale and create a more compassionate, sustainable future for all aquatic species.

Make waves for fish

We can all contribute to this cause in impactful ways:

• Reduce or eliminate fish consumption and choose alternative seafood products that do not contribute to animal suffering.
• Support stronger fish welfare regulations by advocating for policy change.
• Fund or support research on fish sentience and well-being to bridge the knowledge gap.
• Raise awareness by sharing information about the plight of farmed fish and promoting sustainable alternatives.