Written Question · S6W-38095 · Session 6
What action it is taking in response to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s May 2025 recommendation that statutory codes of practice o…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s May 2025 recommendation that statutory codes of practice or official guidance for the welfare of farmed and ornamental fish should be established, in light of the reported finding by the Animal Law Foundation that there have been no known prosecutions in Scotland under existing fish welfare laws, despite reported instances of poor welfare.
The answer
The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish very seriously and has already committed to exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for farmed fish, as set out in its response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s recommendations following its Follow Up Enquiry into Salmon Farming in Scotland.As stated in my response of 10 June we are developing guidance for the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter, which has been developed with the industry and animal welfare bodies.The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are responsible for considering welfare complaints and investigating potential breaches in welfare legislation, and will continue to apply their professional knowledge and training to assess fish welfare against the provisions set out in The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-38095 by reference.