This 49-pages report contains an Executive summary and recommendations in English that you can read by following this link.

Based on a study using data of fish products from January to April 2020 in supermarkets, the main conclusion of the report is that “the status of fish welfare on the shelves is cloudy. Brands and supermarkets make few statements about fish welfare on their websites and in annual reports. The few supermarkets that do have a policy on fish, base themselves on labels”. Dierenbescherming regrets that it is mainly due to a lack of legislation on fish welfare and explains how better legislation on catching, killing and rearing fish, and welfare criteria in labels and supermarket buying policies are necessary to improve fish welfare. 

In order to better ensure fish welfare, Dierenbescherming addresses main recommendations to policymakers, the supermarkets and brands that sell fish products. The Government is encouraged to “maintain the legal obligation to state the fish species, origin and fishing method at the time of purchase” while brands should complete digital product information with at minimum fish species, origin, fishing method and (business-to-business) certification standards. Supermarkets have also a strong to play by, for instance, ensuring that online product information is more complete and complies with legislation, with a minimum of fish species, origin, (if wild) fishing method and, if applicable, certification standard.