Fish welfare and the problem of sentience

Abstract

In Brazil, as well as in other parts of
the World, the concern about fish welfare is in its
initials steps. Fish welfare, if compared to the welfare
of other species of farm animals, is practically an
absent topic for consumers, producers and current
law. However, anatomic, physiologic, behavioral,
evolutive and pharmacologic evidences suggest
that fish experience feelings such as pain, fear and
others, in ways that are similar to other vertebrates.
This suggests that fish are potentially capable of
experiencing suffering and other feelings; in other
words, that fish are sentient. The objective of this
review was to discuss pain and consciousness
in fish, in order to collaborate with sentience
understanding in these animals. Once fishes are
recognized as sentient beings, these animals are
then included into ethical considerations regarding
the avoidance of suffering infliction.