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Fishes Suffer in Overcrowded Farms

From IDA In Defense of Animals
August 2023

There are three general categories of fish farming: freshwater, saltwater, and land-based farming. While each poses its own sets of risks to the environment, the fish themselves, and human health, nearshore and offshore fish farms have especially severe negative impacts on the environment and other aquatic life.

curious Fish
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There are three general categories of fish farming: freshwater, saltwater, and land-based farming. While each poses its own sets of risks to the environment, the fish themselves, and human health, nearshore and offshore fish farms have especially severe negative impacts on the environment and other aquatic life.

Fish in farms live in crowded, high-stress environments, often in giant circular pens along ocean coasts or even miles offshore. Despite scientific evidence proving that fish are sentient and fully capable of feeling pain, they are not covered under any existing animal protection laws including the Animal Welfare Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act. In fact, many states explicitly exempt fish from being protected by their anti-cruelty laws, or exempt standard fishing practices from compliance with them. This needs to change.

farmed Fishes
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Fish farming can also have negative impacts on human health and the environment. Fish farms expose humans, aquatic animals, and the surrounding ecosystems to antibiotics, pesticides, and other chemicals. Offshore farms often have open-net pens that allow these harmful materials to flow into the surrounding bodies of water. The transfer of bacteria and diseases can be detrimental to wild fish populations, and other contaminants cause algal blooms and ocean dead zones. Fish farm nets pose the additional threat of entangling wild animals. Waste and contamination from freshwater farms can contaminate drinking water as well.

fish farms
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Offshore fish farming is still in the beginning stages of development in the United States. 

fish farms
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