4.4M m.t.*
Fish suffer everyday in the Philippines
which include varieties of milkfish, tilapia, shrimp, carp, and mussels among many.
Like intensive factory farming, fishes kept in limited space will predispose them to diseases, infections, and parasites.
As with land animals, the fact that the farms are so crowded makes it very easy for diseases to spread. Viral and bacterial infections may affect the livability of the fishes that are farmed.
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In some cases, farmers resort to excessive feeding to make the fish grow faster. This practice, however, leads to excessive growth of organic matter, which leads to poor water quality.
Most of the fish in aquaculture suffer from:
Poor Water
Quality
Poor water quality may lead to fish kills and other skin conditions that may compromise the fish's overall health.
Improper
Handling
Improper handling among fish causes disease and bacteria which affect their health and welfare.
Inability to Express Natural Behaviors
Due to the space restrictions, fishes are deprived of expressing natural behaviors vital to them.
Inhumane Slaughter
According to international standards, the use of ice slurry in fish slaughter is extremely cruel and inhumane.
Better Fish, Tomorrow
AKF is working toward improving the welfare of fish in aqualculture.
An emerging discussion in the country, fish welfare should be on the agenda in policy change for aquaculture in the Philippines as the country rises globally among the top fish producers.
Fish Welfare and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. We identified 7 SDGs in which areas Fish Welfare can assist in attaining progress and development.
Hidden away in plain view, fishes are suffering!
We conducted a study better to understand the state of fish welfare in the Philippines. We sought to know the farmers' and stakeholders' perceptions toward fish welfare, their awareness of relevant regulations, standards, and laws, and more importantly, provide recommendations to improve the health and welfare of fish.
