Do fish feel pain?
ANIMALS
Short answer
Yes. Fish have nociceptors, opioid receptors, learned pain-avoidance behaviour, and were classified as sentient by the UK Sentience Act 2022 and the LSE 2021 report.
ANIMALS
The detail
Studies by Lynne Sneddon (Liverpool) and others show fish respond to painkillers, avoid electrified regions of a tank after one experience, and show physiological stress markers.
Cephalopods (octopus, squid) and decapods (crabs, lobsters) were included in the same sentience classifications.
Observe how fish react to negative stimulants in a way that goes beyond simple reflex, showing lasting changes in their behavior. A 2020 report by the London School of Economics concluded that decapod crustaceans and cephalopod mollusks should also be considered sentient. Recognizing the capacity for pain in aquatic animals is a crucial step toward extending our circle of compassion to include all beings that inhabit our oceans and rivers.
Source: Sneddon LU, Philos Trans R Soc B 2015;370(1683).
RELATED
More questions like this
- Do vegans eat fish?
No. Fish are sentient animals capable of pain and fear, and industrial fishing devastates marine ecosystems.
- Is any seafood sustainable?
Not really. 34% of global fish stocks are overfished, 60% fished to their limit. Even 'best-choice' labels have major welfare and bycatch problems.
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