Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates

SPCA advocates that fish and aquatic invertebrates must be treated humanely at all times.

SPCA recognises that scientific evidence has sufficiently demonstrated the sentience of fish and some species of aquatic invertebrates (e.g. octopus, squid, cuttlefish, lobsters, crayfish and crabs amongst others). As these animals are capable of experiencing pain and distress, humans have a duty of care to ensure our treatment of fish and aquatic invertebrates are as humane as possible. Aquatic practices which have the potential to cause pain, injury or distress must be avoided. Fish or other animals caught for food, or other consumptive purposes, must be humanely handled and killed as soon as possible after capture.

(see Crustaceans for more information)

(see Multi-catch fishing for more information