European Commission is Breaking EU Treaty Rules on Animal Welfare, says CIWF

Compassion argues the Commission has failed to properly consider the welfare of farmed fish when formulating its proposed Regulation on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), something it is obliged to do under Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The proposed Regulation makes it clear that one of the objectives of the CFP is to promote the development of fish farming. Despite this, it contains no substantive provisions that address the welfare of farmed fish.

Peter Stevenson, Compassions Chief Policy Advisor, says: Most of Europes fish farming is highly intensive. Fish farming is responsible for very considerable animal suffering. All too often the fish are kept in overcrowded tanks or cages. The fish are vulnerable to a range of health problems including malformations such as spinal, head and jaw deformities and injuries to their fins, scales and eyes. Moreover, rearing salmon in cages constrains their natural swimming behaviour as it deprives them of swimming the great distances that are the norm for wild salmon at sea.

It is essential that measures are put in place by the Commission to safeguard fish welfare before there is any further expansion of EU fish farming.

After exchanging several letters with the Commission on the subject and getting answers that failed to address Compassions points, there was no option but to complain to the Ombudsman. This is the first time Compassion in World Farming has made a complaint to the European Ombudsman with regard to the Commissions position on animal welfare.

Article 13 of the Treaty requires the EU, when formulating its policies on agriculture and fisheries, to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals including fish. Fish were included in this provision after scientific research established that they are able to experience pain and fear and have the capacity to suffer.

Peter adds: The Commissions proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy ignores the Treaty. It fails to pay full regard to fish welfare indeed it pays almost no meaningful regard to their welfare.

The Commission has been misleading in handling Compassions concerns. It has asserted that there is insufficient scientific evidence on which to base legislative proposals for many species of farmed fish. However, in 2008 the European Food Safety Authority produced Scientific Reports on the welfare of six of the main fish species farmed in the EU and in 2009 it produced Scientific Opinions on the welfare at slaughter of eight farmed fish species.

The Commission has also claimed that the welfare of farmed fish is covered by existing EU legislation on animal welfare. This is not an accurate account of the position. The welfare of farmed fish is dealt with only in a very superficial manner in existing EU legislation.