European Commission Feedback (ALI France)

Historically, scientists, activists, politicians and industry have all referred to aquatic animal populations as “seafood” and “stocks.” When discussing the use of these extraordinary creatures, we think not of them as individuals, but as animals purely for human consumption, using terms such as “fish stocks,” “stock depletion,” and “seafood traceability.”

This must end. Ample evidence shows that many commonly caught and farmed aquatic animals have the capacity to feel pain and suffer just like their terrestrial cousins. But practices used in both capture fisheries and aquaculture are so inhumane that they would be immediately banned on land. And yet, they exist and remain common practice in the water.

Meanwhile, global aquaculture production is now the fastest-growing food sector in the world, providing over 50% of the fish that people consume. Many claim that aquaculture is the savior to depleted wild fish populations. This is not the case. Roughly ⅓ to ½ of all wild-caught fish are used as feed for aquaculture. This “blue loss” is 17 times higher than all farmed animals annually combined, not to mention the severe cascading welfare issues associated with it. For example, to farm one salmon, an equivalent in biomass of 120 anchovies is needed as feed. We are looking at animal welfare issues magnitudes greater when the entire value chain is taken into account.

To achieve ‘good environmental status’ and have clean, healthy and productive seas, Aquatic Life Institute propose : 1- limit fishing 2- encourage the adoption of fish meal alternatives for fish farming (see our report): Up to 1.2 T fish are killed every year to be used as fish meal and fish oil. The EU should encourage the adoption of alternative plant-based sources of feed for aquaculture. 3- finance research of this alternatives 4- prohibit the most destructive practices (bottom trawling) Bottom trawling in particular is estimated to cause the release of as much carbon as the entire global aviation industry. Those practices should be banned. 5- set up marine protected areas: The European Commission has proposed a plan to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. This plan is also matched by multiple members of the international community. This goal should be a minimum target. We encourage the European Union to go further in setting up marine protected areas and be a leader in this global effort. 6- set up welfare for capture fishing The EU needs to regulate welfare in capture fisheries.