Freedom of Information (FOI) requests Through animal protection charities British Humane League According to reports, the British government and public agencies responsible for monitoring animal welfare failed to check the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter.
The FOI conducted in summer and autumn indicated that although the legislation requires animals, including fish, to “avoid any avoidable pain, suffering or suffering during killing and related operations, there is no established procedure for regular welfare inspections at fish processing sites” . “
Call the police
Cordelia Britton, head of the British Humane League movement, said: “It is shocking that it is clear that zero government officials are checking the welfare of fish at the time of slaughter.
“From our communications, it seems that no relevant agency knows what happened, and every agency is shirking responsibility.
“Without proper supervision, cruel behavior will be ignored-now is the time for the government to be responsible for the way farmed fish are slaughtered, just as they do with other farmed animals.”
When the FOI was released, the Humane Alliance launched its Forgotten fish movement and a petition Call on the government to update the law to compulsory stun farmed fish before slaughter.
pain
The Humane Alliance study commissioned by YouGov also revealed Strong support Regarding the reform of fish welfare, 67% of people said they believed that fish would feel pain.
When asked “To what extent do you agree or disagree that fish should enjoy the same legal protection as other farmed animals?”, the average number of people who agreed was 71%.
2017 European Commission report The statement on the welfare of farmed fish states that the animal and plant health authority (APHA) and the Scottish Oceanic Authority are responsible for the inspection of fish welfare in Scotland.
Marine Scotland told The Humane League that it does not conduct welfare inspections, but APHA may “probably” conduct inspections.
However, the charity learned from APHA that it “has no routine procedures for official inspections of fish processing establishments”.A sort of Follow up is It was confirmed earlier this month that welfare inspections at the time of slaughter had not yet taken place.
Welfare
Trout farming is similar in England and Wales. The Humane League was told that neither the Food Standards Agency nor the Fish Health Inspection Service conducted welfare inspections of fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales, but were conducted by the environmental health department of the local authority.
However, the environmental health department responded that APHA is actually responsible for conducting fish welfare inspections. APHA subsequently notified THL that it would not conduct regular inspections of fish processing facilities. Therefore, the Humane League believes that there are no government officials in the UK to monitor the welfare of fish when they are killed.
Dr. Vicky Bond, Managing Director British Humane League, Said: “In discussions and decisions on animal welfare, fish are often forgotten. This is totally unreasonable. The scientific and public consensus is that they will feel pain. Therefore, it is completely unreasonable to refuse the same protection of farmed fish as terrestrial animals. unreasonable.
As early as 1996, the Government’s Animal Welfare Committee recommended passing detailed stunning requirements to update the law, and 25 years later, safeguards for farmed fish are still insufficient. This needs to change. “
This author
Ruby Harbour is the editorial assistant Ecologist. This article is based on a press release from the British Humane League.
