Lack of inspections at fish slaughterhouses a ‘disgrace’, says Animal Equality UK
Charity calls for faster progress on humane slaughter laws for farmed fish in England and Wales Up to 77m fish are slaughtered each year in the UK but there are no routine or mandatory inspections of fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales, it can be revealed. Concerns within government about the way fish are slaughtered date back decades but all of the official bodies responsible for animal…
A charity has condemned the lack of inspections at fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales, describing it as a "disgrace". Up to 77 million fish are slaughtered annually in the UK, but routine or mandatory inspections of these facilities do not exist. Animal Equality UK has been unable to obtain a response from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) or the Food Standards Agency (FSA) regarding regular inspections.
Both agencies have referred the charity to the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), which also stated it does not conduct regular checks.
Abigail Penny, the executive director of Animal Equality UK, emphasized that fish are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain. She lamented the government's failure to take responsibility for their welfare at slaughter, noting that this is a significant oversight and leaves the animals more vulnerable. The Farm Animal Welfare Council, now called the Animal Welfare Committee, has recommended legislation for farmed fish slaughter since 1996.
In 2024, the committee urged for the implementation of stun procedures and inspection systems to enforce these standards.
The government announced in December 2025 that it plans to introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish, but no draft legislation has been released yet. Penny criticized the government for knowing about the need for legal protection for farmed fish for decades but failing to act. She called for the swift enactment of species-specific slaughter legislation, accompanied by a robust inspection regime, to prevent the prolonged, painful deaths of millions of fish.
Animal Equality UK estimates that approximately 7,742 tonnes of trout are killed each year in England and Wales, with the British Trout Association reporting nearly 290 trout farms in the country. An APHA representative clarified that while fish farms are not routinely inspected, the agency investigates reports of suspected welfare issues and FHI inspects them on behalf of the government, taking action if evidence of cruelty or neglect is found.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
