The scientific consensus supports it: fish possess nociceptors, show trade-off behaviours after noxious stimuli, respond to analgesics, and demonstrate learning and avoidance consistent with the experience of pain.

Is farmed fish better for the ocean than wild-caught?

Not straightforwardly. Carnivorous farmed species such as salmon are fed wild-caught forage fish, so farming can increase rather than relieve pressure on wild stocks.

Animals

Fish, sentience and aquaculture

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector on earth. This hub covers welfare science, fishmeal supply chains, bycatch and ocean-floor damage.

5: Stories
3: Desks
2: Contributors
8,448: Words

Ocean Conservation Animal Rights Factory Farming

Large livestock carrier ship transporting sheep for live export from the UK.

Factory Farming

5 Myths About Live Exports From the UK, Debunked

Uncover the harsh realities and common misconceptions surrounding the UK's live animal export trade, exposing the truth behind this controversial practice.

Dr. Eleanor Vance · 7 min · 1,606 words

Luxurious drapes of various vegan silk alternatives like Tencel, modal, and bamboo fabric.

Animal Rights

The Ultimate Silk Swap Guide: Ethical Alternatives for Your Wardrobe and Home

Discover how to replace traditional silk with innovative, cruelty-free alternatives in every aspect of your life, from bedding to fashion accessories.

8 min read

A family talking to kids about where food comes from, gardening together in a plant-based, ethical way.

Animal Rights

Raising Compassionate Kids: Your Guide to Explaining Food's Animal Origins

Discover how to talk to kids about animal agriculture, where food comes from, and ethical choices without guilt or trauma, fostering compassionate kids.

7 min read

Humane meat UK 2026 label on a supermarket meat product, highlighting consumer choices.

Factory Farming

The State of ‘Humane Meat’ in 2026: What the Data Show for UK Consumers

Explore the current landscape of 'humane meat' in the UK market, uncovering why this marketing term often falls short of genuine animal welfare and ethical standards.

8 min read

Overcrowded conditions in an industrial animal agriculture chicken farm, illustrating public health risks.

Factory Farming

The Public-Health Case Against Industrial Animal Agriculture: Sparking the Next Pandemic

Industrial animal agriculture is a significant public health hazard, creating ideal conditions for zoonotic pathogen emergence and the spread of antibiotic resistance, sparking the next pandemic threat.

9 min read

Questions this hub answers

Do fish feel pain?: The scientific consensus supports it: fish possess nociceptors, show trade-off behaviours after noxious stimuli, respond to analgesics, and demonstrate learning and avoidance consistent with the experience of pain.
Is farmed fish better for the ocean than wild-caught?: Not straightforwardly. Carnivorous farmed species such as salmon are fed wild-caught forage fish, so farming can increase rather than relieve pressure on wild stocks.