EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism Releases Code of Good Practices on Fish Welfare Indicators

November 16, 2025 - Centre for Aquaculture Progress

EU flags at the European Commission Berlaymont building

In October 2025, the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism, with the support of the European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund (EMFAF) and in close collaboration with the European Union Reference Centre for Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua), released the Code of Good Practices on Fish Welfare and Fish Welfare Indicators. This code provides non-species-specific best practices for monitoring welfare across different life stages and production systems.

The code summarizes current knowledge on welfare assessment, outlines exiting resources for producers, and provides fact sheets on the following indicators:

Food anticipatory behaviour
Feeding response
Condition factor or emaciation state
Body injuries
Use of space
Dissolved oxygen
Respiration rate
Swimming activity
Skin and/or fin condition
Surface activity
Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex

Conclusions

The literature review identified an urgent need for standardized welfare monitoring, assessment protocols, and practical tools across EU aquaculture. These protocols ought to be species-, life stage- and production system-specific. The code also recommends nominating a welfare officer for each site and establishing a clear monitoring strategy to minimize negative welfare outcomes.

The full report can be read here. To learn more about fish welfare indicators, please see the Centre for Aquaculture Progress resources on Welfare Protocols.