Animal Equality UK has revealed that approximately 77 million fish are killed each year in the UK without any mandatory or routine inspections of fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales. The organization’s investigation found that all major government bodies responsible for animal welfare and food standards in the two regions stated they do not conduct regular inspections of such facilities.
When Animal Equality UK contacted regulatory agencies, they were referred between different departments. The Animal and Plant Health Agency initially directed the charity to the Fish Health Inspectorate, which then stated it does not perform routine or mandatory inspections. The Food Standards Agency similarly confirmed it does not undertake such inspections. Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, characterized the situation as a significant oversight, stating that no government agency takes responsibility for monitoring fish welfare during slaughter.
Concerns about fish slaughter practices have persisted within government circles for several decades. In 1996, the Farm Animal Welfare Council—now known as the Animal Welfare Committee—recommended that legislation be enacted to govern the slaughter of farmed fish. The committee revisited this recommendation in 2014 and again most recently, urging governments across the UK to require fish to be stunned before slaughter and to establish inspection systems to enforce such standards.
The government’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published in December 2025, included a commitment to introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish, though draft legislation has not yet been released. Penny criticized the delay in implementation, noting that millions of fish remain vulnerable to prolonged and painful deaths each month that passes without legal protections. She called for the government to immediately advance species-specific slaughter legislation accompanied by a comprehensive inspection regime.
According to Animal Equality UK estimates, approximately 7,742 tonnes of trout are slaughtered annually in England and Wales. The British Trout Association reports that the UK operates nearly 290 trout farms and hatcheries, primarily located in northern England, southern England, and southern Scotland. An APHA spokesperson countered that fish farms are regulated and inspected by government bodies, stating the agency investigates suspected welfare violations and takes action if evidence of cruelty or neglect is found.
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