SEPTEMBER 2023

Benefits of Aquatic
Animal Welfare for
Sustainable Development Goals
SUMMARY REPORTThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets forth a comprehensive framework for
global development encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals
address the most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time,with the aim of creating a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable world by the year2030.
One crucial aspect that deserves attention in the context of the SDGs is animal welfare,which plays a significant role in both supporting and being impacted by multiple Goals.
For aquatic animals, their welfare is intrinsically linked to not only SDG 14: Life Below
Water, but the achievement of many other SDGs.
It is essential to recognize that aquatic animal welfare extends beyond ethicalconsiderations. Improving their well-being has far-reaching implications for sustainable
development, including poverty eradication, food security, environmental preservation,
public health, and social equity. Incorporating aquatic animal welfare considerations into
national policies, strategies, and practices is an urgent and essential task for all countries.
By addressing the welfare of these sentient beings, nations can forge a transformational
path towards a more sustainable and equitable future, in line with the principles andinterconnectedness of the 2030 Agenda.
This report highlights ten priority areas in which aquatic animal welfare serves as across-cutting solution to many of the sustainable development challenges we face today.
By embracing this holistic perspective, we can foster a more compassionate, sustainable,
and resilient world for both present and future generations.

01

AQUATIC ANIMALWELFARE ANDSDGs
Recommendations
We have identiﬁed ten
key areas where aquatic
animal welfare is at theheart of the Sustainable
Development Goals.

1. Water Quality
SDG 6, 14Poor animal welfare resulting
from high stocking density andpotential displacement ofDisease outbreaks in ﬁsh farms

native ﬁsh, which could lead toare caused by compromiseddeleterious consequences for

immune systems due to poor

wild ﬁsh populations and thehealth, nutrition, and rearing

local environment.

conditions. Weakened immune

A. Producers should
implement measures thatprevent escapes, such as
double-netting, and preparecontingency plans in theevent an escape occurs.

inefﬁcient feeding can cause

B. Provide species-speciﬁc

toxic wastewater in ﬁsh farms.

stocking density, feed

Left untreated, it can deplete

composition andsurrounding waters of oxygen,environmental enrichment tocausing algal blooms / deadnaturally reduce stress andzones, and public health issues.

aggression (especially for

A. Species-appropriate
stocking density and optimal
feeding to mitigate toxic wastebuildup in surrounding waters.

normally passive species who
become aggressive undercaptivity conditions).

systems increase the possibilityof disease outbreaks which isproblematic as pathogens andparasites can spread outside of
the farm, damaging local ﬁsh
populations and ecosystems.

A. Appropriate stocking
densities, feeding, andenvironmental enrichment
speciﬁc to species and life
stage can reduce stress andthus reduce the risk ofinfection, disease
ampliﬁcation, andtransmission. Such prevention
strategies should always

C. We strongly caution against

represent the ﬁrst line ofmoving towards intensive

B. Extensive review ofdefense against disease andland-based aquaculture

aquaculture zoning and siteparasites.

systems as the solution toselection can also prevent

offshore aquaculture issues

environmental impacts of(e.g. water contamination andaquaculture.

ﬁsh escapes) -- catastrophic

2. Biosecurity
SDG 6, 14The escape of non-native ﬁshfrom aquaculture farms causes
competition for food andsystem failures in recirculating
aquaculture systems can kill
up to millions of ﬁsh.

B. Apply medical interventions
like traditional vaccinations
that prepare the individualorganisms’ immune systems
to combat pathogens. Suchinterventions must be
handled by trained personnel

3. Disease Control

following best welfare

SDG 3, 14

in water and minimizing air

practices, such as handling ﬁsh02

AQUATIC ANIMALWELFARE AND
SDGstime.

necessary is acceptable.

C. Steps must be taken to

C. When vaccination is

reduce the adverse effects onnecessary, it shall be done

the welfare of all animals usedwith minimal distress and within this process. To this end, theanesthesia, performed byuse of cleaner ﬁsh for thecertiﬁed veterinarians ortreatment of sea lice shouldadequately trained animalbe eliminated.

health professionals.

D. Provide training for staff to

5. FeedComposition

monitor and recognize
physical and behavioral
welfare indicators.

4. AntimicrobialResistanceSDG 3, 14
Antibiotics are frequently used
to prevent or treat bacterial
infections, especially inhatcheries, however
unregulated usage has caused
major concern for antimicrobialresistance. Poor welfare

SDG 2, 12, 13, 14
While feed in aquaculture has
improved dramatically to requireless wild-caught ﬁsh,aquaculture is still heavily reliant

phased out. However,metaphylactic use ofantibiotics when absolutely

their feed are co-produced
and are fed a moreherbivorous diet.

6. Climate
ChangeSDG 13, 14

trawling, which produces acomposition and techniques, thesigniﬁcant amount of carbon

future of the entire ﬁsheries

emissions. Removing aquaticindustry as well as global foodanimals and destroying seabedsecurity is at stake.

habitats also reduce the ocean's

composition through researchuse of antibiotics should besystems where animals andimprovements to feedparasites and pathogens.

B. The routine or prophylactic

extractive species, andcaught is through bottom

effort to improve feed

the population.

or omnivorous species,composition. Without major

antimicrobials to treat viruses,

cases before they spread tofarmed species to herbivorous

One method in which ﬁshes are

A. We urge for a coordinatedto identify and treat isolated

C. Shift from carnivorous

on wild ﬁsh in current ﬁsh feed

increases the need for

A. Every effort should be madesuggests this will not have adeleterious impact on thehealth and wellbeing of theﬁsh, nor the ecosystem.

and innovation to easepressure on wild ﬁshpopulations.
B. Producers must movetoward the use of alternative,
plant-based feed products
where possible, and higher
feed efﬁciency ratios (e.g. lessanimal-derived ingredients) tothe extent that the evidence

capacity to store carbon.
Aquaculture will be increasinglyaffected by climate change inmany ways, including increased
temperature, ocean acidity, andpollutants, as well as more
intense and unpredictable
weather events.

A. Ban bottom trawling. Wherebans are not possible, modify
trawl gear, reduce trawl speed
and duration, elevate nets toavoid damaging the sea floor,

03

AQUATIC ANIMALWELFARE AND
SDGs
and use bycatch reduction

B. Improve the efﬁciency ofhumane stunning anddevices. Also, adopt site-ﬁsh feed conversion ratios toslaughter, to minimize stressspecific management

safeguard wild ﬁshand disease.

measures.

populations for communities

B. Promote regenerative
ocean and seaweed farming,

who depend on ﬁsh for theirmain source of nutrition.

B. In capture ﬁsheries, every
effort should be made tocapture, handle, andboth of which can provide

C. Promote local no-catchslaughter aquatic animals

beneﬁts of carbon

marine reserves to allow ﬁshwith welfare in mind to

sequestration, restoration of

populations to recover andminimize stress and disease.

ocean ecosystems, andserve as a source of protein foraddressing the global

local communities.

9. Ecosystem
Healthplastics crisis.
C. Sourcing feed fromresponsible and sustainablesources should be a top

8. Food Safety
SDG 3, 14

SDG 12, 13, 14, 15
A lack of welfare considerations

priority, as it directly relates to

Several welfare factors affect ﬁshin aquaculture and capture

other animals being captured

product safety and quality forﬁsheries negatively impact theand processed to feed,consumers. During rearing, poor

ecosystem’s health. In

producing a substantial

welfare leads to more bacteria,

aquaculture, poor nutrition fromamount of GHG emissions.

viruses, biotoxins, and parasites,

excess or insufﬁcient feed forwhich are commonly treatedﬁsh could lead to compromised

with antimicrobials andwater quality, aquatic pollution,

chemicals. During slaughter,and attract wild ﬁsh or predators

microbial contamination ofdue to extra feed hanging in theHigh aquatic animal welfare

water, increased handling,water column. In capture

translates to a more food-secureinvasive stunning and slaughter

ﬁsheries, abandoned ﬁshing nets

future, as it uses the best

methods could lead to increased

and gear, or ghost gear, continue

available science to create highbacterial growth post-slaughter,to kill wildlife and pose serious

welfare environments thatcompromising the safety of theocean plastics pollution issues.

ultimately reduces disease andfood product.

mortality.

A. In aquaculture, every effort

provide species-appropriate

A. Utilize low trophic species,

should be made to provide awelfare considerations tosuch as sardines andhigh welfare environment for

reduce the probability ofanchovies as direct protein

the aquatic animal that ispredators, escapes, andand nutrient sources inspecies- and life stage-

waste-water spillage.

relevant communities.

appropriate, coupled with

7. Food Security
SDG 2, 14

A. In offshore aquaculture,

04

AQUATIC ANIMALWELFARE ANDSDGs
B. In any aquaculture systembusinesses at risk, it alsoﬁshing subsidies (e.g. fuelwhere predation is likely to be

exacerbates food insecurity andsubsidies, ﬁnancial support for

an issue, a risk assessment ofpublic health issues.

industrial ﬁshing ﬂeets) thatthe deployment ofMoreover, in capture ﬁsheries,

encourage overﬁshing, IUU

anti-predator measures
should take account of theanimal welfare impact on the
farmed ﬁsh, on the predatorsthemselves, and on any
nontarget species that may beaffected.

issues of human trafﬁcking andhuman rights violations,particularly among migrant
workers in developing nations,have been documented on
ﬁshing vessels and must end. In
aquaculture, workers are

C. In capture ﬁsheries, ﬁshing

exposed to a multitude ofgear that is designed withpotential occupational hazards

welfare and environmental

as well.

impacts in mind can help

A. In terms of worker safety, all

reduce unnecessary mortalityof aquatic species (both targetand non-target) and any
potential of ocean plastic

states should ratify ILO
Convention No. 188 as
minimum requirements forﬁshing, and highly destructive
practices to the ecosystem,
such as bottom trawling.
Promote subsides that
support sustainable ﬁshingpractices (e.g. supplemental
payment to artisanal ﬁshers
during slow seasons,sustainable ﬁsheries
management programs, andlocal ﬁsheries research anddevelopment.)

Conclusionﬁshers. Adopt technologicalAs consumer demand is expected

tools that allow workers toto rise for seafood in the coming

10. Livelihoods

report their working conditions

years, further strain fromonboard at any given moment.

overﬁshing, climate change andSDG 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12,B. Catch share management

13, 14, 15

systems must start withMany local communities arounddesign in order to ensure

the world rely on ﬁsheries forprotections of small-scale

employment, nutritious food,ﬁshers, address otherand human health. However,community needs and protect

they are threatened by poor

against excess consolidation

management and unsustainable

into large ﬁshingﬁshing methods and practices

conglomerates. Animal welfare

that results in overﬁshing andinterventions should also stem

excessive bycatch of non-target

from culturally-based needs

species, including endangered

and designs.

debris.

species. This not only puts futurejob opportunities and family

community-based needs andunsustainable production methods
will be placed on our fragile
ecosystems and harm the people
and animals that rely on themmost. These recommendations
offer a robust framework for
implementing meaningful welfare
interventions that allow for aquatic
animals to have a life worth living,and in the context of global
development, provide adaptive
measures for aquaculture andﬁsheries to help achieve global
Sustainable Development Goals.

C. Elimination of harmful

Please refer to Annex for more information on how each of the 10 priority areas is related to one or more of the SDGs

05

AQUATIC LIFE INSTITUTE'SPROGRAMS ARE MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE
GENEROUSCONTRIBUTIONS OF OURDONORS.

Supporting our work helps to improve the lives of trillions of aquatic animals.
For questions or comments, please email ali@ali.ﬁsh

Visit our website: www.ali.ﬁsh