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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to include species-specific stunning requirements for farmed fish in slaughter regulations, in line with the protection afforded to terrestrial farmed animals.

As part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are 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, and this is expected in the new year. The Committee’s advice will take into account species-specific welfare considerations for fish that are farmed in the UK.