Aquatic Life Institute was on the ground in Belém to bring an urgent message: Aquatic animals must be part of global climate–food system solutions

Two separate breakthroughs, one on biodiversity protection in the high seas, the other on harmful fishing subsidies, are finally moving from talk to law. Together, they can start to change life at sea for whales, sharks, tuna, squid, and the trillions of other aquatic animals we rarely see.

Where did aquatic animal welfare show up and where do we go from here? Aquatic Life Institute shares key takeaways from the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice

After five years of strategic engagement, coalition-building, and persistent advocacy, Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the launch of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) newly unified Farm Standard

The AVA Summit in Los Angeles was more than just an annual gathering for the movement, it was a moment to reflect on how far aquatic animal advocacy has come, and where we need to go together.

Last week, our team attended Seafood Expo Global 2025 (SEG25) in Barcelona, Spain and were inspired to see how much visibility aquatic animal welfare continues to gain across the seafood sector

As we reach the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our oceans continue to face immense challenges. This year presents a crucial juncture for us to accelerate protections and drive meaningful change for the future of our oceans.

As demand for ethically sourced and sustainably harvested seafood continues to rise, so too does scrutiny of fishing practices—especially when it comes to animal welfare. Tuna, a staple in international markets, and a multibillion dollar industry, is now at the center of this growing discussion.

At Seafood Expo North America in March 2025, Aquatic Life Institute team members engaged in discussions and made connections with stakeholders aligned with our vision for a more humane and sustainable seafood industry.

Co-op, one of the largest food retailers in the UK, has taken a progressive stance on aquatic animal welfare by achieving 100% ablation-free prawns in their supply chain and committing to implement electrical stunning for all farmed prawns by 2027.

While global efforts against the practice have spurred action, one lingering question remains: What’s happening with Nueva Pescanova’s controversial octopus farm in Spain?

We are thrilled to announce that Aquatic Life Institute has been recognized as one of the most effective animal charities in the world according to Animal Charity Evaluators’ 2024 recommendations. 

This year, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was ranked second in the Benchmark, with a score of 7.3 out of 10. 

The media celebrates the new law as a testament to effective advocacy and collaboration among organizations who raised awareness about the ethical, environmental, and public health issues associated with farming octopuses.

We interviewed Maria Filipa Castanheira, Fish Health and Welfare Standards Manager at Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), to learn about the process that led to ASC’s top ranking in this year’s Benchmark.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) is thrilled to announce the release of the 3rd edition of our Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark: Aquatic Animal Welfare. This annual report evaluates the welfare standards of 8 global seafood certification schemes and, for the first time, an international ratings agency.

On September 27th, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 3162, the California Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act into law, prohibiting octopus farming and the sales of commercially farmed octopus products in California.

The 5th Annual Aquatic Life Conference was a resounding success, bringing together 860 registrants and 18 globally diverse speakers to discuss the future of the seafood industry through the lens of Aquatic Life Institute’s 4Rs framework: Reduce, Refine, Replace, and Reject.

Aquatic Life Institute has supported major companies, Tesco and Hilton Foods, in producing comprehensive crustacean welfare policies, both released this month.

We are thrilled to share groundbreaking news in our Octopus Farming Ban Campaign. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Lisa Murkowski have introduced a federal bill to ban the commercial farming of octopuses, as well as the importation and sale of commercially farmed octopus.