UK Legislation
The welfare of fish farmed for food is presently covered in the UK by the Animal Welfare Act 2007 and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. These Acts introduce a duty of care for all vertebrates that are kept by man, including fish.
Other legislation and regulations that are relevant to fish welfare include:
- The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 and the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009; require all fish farms to be registered and specify the requirement for all registered farms to keep records of stock movements and mortality.
- The Welfare of Animals Regulations (Slaughter and Killing) 1995; makes it an offence for anyone engaged in the movement, restraint and stunning of fish to cause or permit any fish to sustain any avoidable excitement, pain or suffering.
- The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Wales) Order 2007; require that animals are transported in a manner that does not, and is not likely to, cause injury or unnecessary suffering.
- Fish Health Regulations, 1997; granted powers of inspection to The Fish Health Inspectorate for the collection of samples for the purposes of monitoring and control of certain diseases.