Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates

SPCA advocates that wild fish and aquatic invertebrates must be treated humanely and practices that have the potential to cause unnecessary pain, injury or suffering must be avoided.

Fish and some species of aquatic invertebrates (e.g., octopus, squid, cuttlefish, lobsters, crayfish, and crabs amongst others) are sentient animals. As these animals can experience pain and distress, humans have a duty of care to ensure our treatment of fish and aquatic invertebrates is as humane as possible. Fishing practices which have the potential to cause unnecessary pain, injury or distress must be avoided. Fish and aquatic invertebrates must be humanely handled and killed as soon as possible after capture.

(see Crustaceans for more information)

(see Recreational Fishing for more information)

(see Commercial fishing for more information)