In December 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for a new EU regulation on the protection of animals during transport, updating the 20-year-old regulation currently in place. For the first time, this proposal includes specific requirements to protect fish and other aquatic animals during transport.

To become law, this proposal needs to be adopted by the European Parliament (which represents citizens) and by the Council of the EU (which represents national governments). The first step of that process is a vote in the Committee of Fisheries of the European Parliament, where members will vote on the rules specific to aquatic animals.

There is significant evidence that aquatic animals such as fish, cephalopods and decapods are sentient animals. Their welfare needs to be protected at all stages of their lives. Nearly one billion aquatic animals are transported live each year in the EU, without any specific rules to protect them.

Transport is a significant risk to the welfare of aquatic animals because it involves a succession of stressful processes over extended periods of time, such as handling, netting, pumping, crowding, environmental changes, and compromised water quality. The severity of these stressful procedures will determine their impact on welfare, and the risk of illness and death, both during transportation and the following days/weeks.

This vote would also create an important precedent for the update of other animal welfare legislative texts, creating a strong argument in favour of  aquatic animals being protected by EU legislation during rearing and at the time of slaughter.

You can also use Instagram to tell MEPs to vote in favour of fish welfare. 

1. Go to our post on Instagram

2. Click on the share button below the post

3. In the lower bar, click on the button "Add to my story"

4. Tag the accounts of MEPs in the Fisheries Committee such as

• @carmencrespo.diaz
• @isabellalovin
• @gabrielmatoadrover
• @IdoiaMendia
• @emmawiesner
• @andre_franqueira_rodrigues
• @stjepobartulica

5. Personalise your story with a personal note such as "I hope MEPs will vote to protect aquatic animals" or "I want fish to be protected during transport"

6. Use the hashtag #RethinkFish

7. Post the story by clicking on the top right arrow.

8. You're done!