Minding the Gaps in Fish Welfare: The Untapped Potential of Fish Farm Workers

Abstract

The welfare of farmed fish is often regarded with less concern than the welfare of other husbandry animals, as fish are not universally classified as sentient beings. In Norway, farmed fish and other husbandry animals are legally protected under the same laws. Additionally, the legislature has defined a number of aquaculture-specific amendments, including mandatory welfare courses for fish farmers who have a key role in securing animal welfare, also with regards to noting welfare challenges in the production process. This article uses fish welfare courses as a site from which to inquire about the common-sense understanding of fish welfare in Norwegian fish farming. The focus is specifically on fish farm employees, their experiences of welfare-related issues and contradictions in their daily work, and the struggle to act responsibly in aquaculture settings. Through participant observation at welfare courses, as well as interviews and conversations with fish farm workers, the article details how challenges are experienced ‘on the ground’, and suggests how fish farm workers’ own experiential knowledge might be mobilized to improve the general welfare of farmed fish.

All Creatures Great and Small: A Review and Typology of Employee-Animal Interactions

“…The final category of interaction involves employees working on animals as commodities, where animals serve as integrated components of the supply chain in the process of production or experimentation (Clarke & Knights, 2022;Koch & Ulver, 2022;Magri et al, 2021). The category is dominated by farmers (Ceccato, Lundqvist, Abraham, Göransson, & Svennefelt, 2022;Medaas et al, 2021), stock people (Losada-Espinosa et al, 2020), and abattoir workers (McLoughlin, 2019) but also includes scientists in research laboratories that conduct animal testing (Ferrara et al, 2022;Hobson-West, 2012;Wigham, Grist, Mullan, Wotton, & Butterworth, 2020). Of note, this work constitutes an exponentially greater portion of employee-animal interactions and the economy than the other three combined.…”

“…Whereas employees seek to work for and with animals, and working around animals is either a preference or random, working on animals is transactional. Those employed in the commodification of animals cite instrumental reasons, such as the availability of work (Medaas et al, 2021), even though it tends to be poorly compensated (Broadway, 2000). Much of the work is difficult, featuring physical hazards (Magri et al, 2021), stigma (Ashforth et al, 2017), and emotional strain (McLoughlin, 2019).…”

Finding the “golden stocking density”: A balance between fish welfare and farmers' perspectives

“…Therefore, in some markets at least, there are premiums to be charged for fish cultured under welfare assurance schemes (33). Additionally, ensuring good welfare in farmed fish is an important aspect of job satisfaction for fish farm workers (39,40). In simpler terms, fish under good welfare will represent a higher yield and a higher financial income for the business in developed markets.…”

New indices for the diagnosis of fish welfare and their application to the grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ) reared in earthen ponds

“…The scientific community's recognition of the sentience of fish is reflected in society's stance calling for greater control over how animals are kept and managed in captivity, particularly when they are intended for human consumption (Huntingford & Kadri, 2009). These demands have led, for example, to changes in technical regulations and aquaculture standards that now consider animal welfare as a prerequisite for production (Branson, 2008; Medaas et al, 2021; Seibel et al, 2020).…”

“…example, to changes in technical regulations and aquaculture standards that now consider animal welfare as a prerequisite for production (Branson, 2008;Medaas et al, 2021;Seibel et al, 2020).…”