The Petition

Fish are the most exploited vertebrates on Earth, yet they are among the least protected. In the United States, fish are not covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the Animal Welfare Act, or even all state cruelty laws.

This means that billions of sentient animals — capable of feeling pain, fear, and stress — are raised and killed with virtually no specific legal protections for their welfare.

Animal Outlook’s undercover investigation into Cooke Aquaculture, a U.S. salmon hatchery supplying True North Seafood, revealed what happens when an entire industry operates in the shadows. Behind marketing claims of “sustainability” and “high welfare,” our investigator found suffering fish, filthy conditions, and systemic neglect. A judge later called the cruelty we documented “grotesque and reprehensible.”

The science is clear — fish are sentient. The law must reflect that reality.

I join Animal Outlook in calling on lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders to:

• Officially recognize fish sentience in law and policy

• Establish and enforce meaningful welfare standards for aquaculture and slaughter that reduce suffering

• End deceptive “humane” and “sustainable” marketing claims that contradict on the ground conditions

Fish deserve protection. I urge you to act now to ensure that these animals are no longer treated as disposable commodities, but as living beings whose interests matter.