Studies have found that fish change their behaviour when subjected to a painful event and that painkillers prevent that behaviour, indicating that they are suffering, not just physically reacting to a negative stimulus. And, although their nervous systems and brains are different from ours, they are capableВ of experiencing pain. Research has shown that, like mammals, they have pain receptors (nociceptors) that detect injury. There is now a scientific consensusВ that fish feel pain. Are we ready to accept that fish have feelings? When people think of fish, itвЂ™s usually as food, sport, or something to look at in an aquarium. The scientific evidence that fish are sentient (able to feel and perceive things) has been piling upВ over the past few decades, but this information, much less its implications, has yet to permeate public consciousness. Animal Protectors are a group of compassionate and dedicated activists who take quick, easy actions to help end cruelty to animals.Ready for another inconvenient truth? HereвЂ™s one: fish feel pain, are sentient, and are far more intelligent than we thought.Д®ven more inconvenient-we need to do something about it. You can help us achieve more groundbreaking legal progress for farmed animals, by joining our team of Animal Protectors today. Our supporters played an invaluable role in this landmark victory for animals by signing the petition, emailing their MPs, and expressing support on social media.

Then in late 2021, as a result of a report from experts at the London School of Economics and campaigning from the Better Deal For Animals coalition, the Government announced it was amending the Animal Sentience Bill to include certain other animals вЂ“ namely decapod crustaceans (such as lobsters, crabs and prawns) and cephalopods (such as octopuses and squids).ДЇor now, this doesnвЂ™t ban any specific practices such as boiling crabs and lobsters alive вЂ“ although the expert report does recommend this вЂ“ but it does mean policymakers will be obligated to take these animals and their ability to suffer into account when making decisions. Lobsters, crabs, and octopuses recognized as sentientДЄt first, the Animal Sentience Bill only recognized vertebrates (animals with a backbone) as sentient beings. The Government Minister with responsibility for that policy area will then be duty-bound to provide Parliament with a written response to these reports within three months. The Committee will have the power to publish reports on its findings. The law will create an Animal Sentience Committee, who will be able to examine whether Government policy has taken animalsвЂ™ needs into account and to what extent. It is an important step forward for UK animal welfare law. The animal sentience law means that animalsвЂ™ ability to feel will be officially recognized in Government policy decision making. Our official petition to the Government gathered over 100,000 signatures from UK residents, prompting a debate on animal sentience in the House of Commons. Politicians from across political parties backed our campaign and expressed their support for animals. Along with groups including Humane Society International and Wildlife and Countryside Link, we urged the UK Government to once again legally recognize that animals can feel and suffer.

Campaigning for an animal sentience lawДЄnimal Equality has been campaigning for this crucial legal protection since 2019 as part of the Better Deal For Animals coalition, an alliance of 50 of the UKвЂ™s leading animal protection organizations. Animals experience feelings such as joy, pleasure, fear and pain.ДЄnimal sentience was the only piece of European Union (EU) legislation that was not transferred to UK law when the UK formally left the EU on 1 stВ January 2021. There is a wealth of scientific research evidencing that animals, including those farmed for human consumption, are sentient. Sentience is the ability to feel sensations and emotions. Over the next few days it will be formally approved by the Queen and become a law. The Bill, officially called the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, has now progressed to the Royal Assent stage. The Animal Sentience Bill has passed its final hurdle in the Houses of Parliament, meaning UK law will soon officially recognize that animals have the capacity to feel. Animal Sentience Bill passes through Parliament

Fish sentience