EU set to help governments improve conditions in fish farms

The European Commission has announced it will establish a new centre to support EU countries to better protect the welfare of fish in farms. We welcome the commitment, as it can help improve the lives of these forgotten animals, yet we also call on the Commission to establish high standards for fish farming in the upcoming revision of the animal welfare legislation.

Good step forward

“The plans for this new centre is a good step forward for fish," said Olga Kikou, Head of Compassion in World Farming EU. "It shows that the repeated calls by citizens and the dialogue with the EU institutions are starting to bear fruit."

"The EU Commission is finally laying its eyes on the welfare of these neglected creatures," she added. "This is a good omen in the context of the revision of the animal welfare legislation, as fish must be afforded legal protection.”

Citizen power

The European Commission made the announcement for a new Reference Centre for Farmed Fish during yesterday’s meeting of the European Commission’s expert group ‘Platform on Animal Welfare,’ as we also handed over a petition calling for new standards to protect fish welfare. Our petition was signed by 150 001 individuals, and it was supported by WeMove and Essere Animali.

The new EU Reference Centre for farmed fish would provide scientific and technical expertise to EU member states when carrying out official controls in the field of animal welfare. The European Commission has already established Reference Centres for the welfare of pigs, poultry and other small animals, ruminants and equines.

For more information, please email eu.office@ciwf.org