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

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 defin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agricultural & environmental ethics 2021, Vol.34 (5), p.29-29, Article 29
Main Authors: Medaas, Christian, Lien, Marianne E., Gismervik, Kristine, Kristiansen, Tore S., Osmundsen, Tonje, Størkersen, Kristine Vedal, Tørud, Brit, Stien, Lars Helge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural Economics
Animal husbandry
Animal welfare
Animals
Aquaculture
Education
Ethics
Evolutionary Biology
Farmworkers
Fish
Fish farms
Fisheries
Law
Philosophy
Plant Sciences
Theory of Medicine/Bioethics
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1187-7863
1573-322X
DOI:10.1007/s10806-021-09869-w