Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor the welfare of farmed fish that are slaughtered on wellboats.

Legislation on the protection of animals at the time of killing requires that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations. The Animal and Plant Health Agency is responsible for carrying out any investigations concerning the welfare of farmed fish, including at slaughter.

As part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are currently considering improvements that could be made to the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing. To inform this work, we have asked the Animal Welfare Committee for advice on the killing of farmed fish, including the use of wellboats.