The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee (PECH) is currently considering initiating a so-called own-initiative report on fish welfare in aquaculture. If the initiative goes ahead, it will mean the European Parliament taking a formal position on a range of fish welfare issues and related policy. With upcoming Commission initiatives and the rising awareness of consumers, this could be the crucial move to put fish welfare high on the EU’s agenda during a critical time to finally tackle the welfare issues of this long overlooked group of farmed animals.