Is there a nascent marine movement for the better treatment of fish?
For whatever reason—maybe because they aren’t cuddly—fish aren’t often considered in animal welfare discussions. Some advocates and scientists hope to change that and want to start with industrial fish farming, which may fly under the radar because it largely happens underwater and away from our notice. It’s currently acceptable to let fish suffocate on decks or be crammed into crowded tanks with poor water and ventilation. Yet there’s an emerging debate about whether fish feel pain and, if so, how the global seafood industry and those who eat them should rethink farming standards and treatment of these animals swimming through the supply chain. As one fish-righter told Vox, “We have a blank slate for this movement.”
