Foxes and fish: WAWC responds to consultations
WAWC’s work for 2025 has opened with the submission of consultation responses on two topics, both very different but both relevant to the welfare of sentient wild animals.
John Blair MLA is currently proposing to bring a Private Member’s Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly to ban fox hunting in Northern Ireland. WAWC has responded to the consultation, stressing our support for an overall ban on the use of dogs to hunt and kill wild mammals, ideally without any exceptions. The reality is, however, that there are likely to be exceptions to allow the finding and flushing of foxes towards waiting guns, and we have therefore recommended measures to ensure that any such exception is as narrow as possible and designed to prevent the killing of any wild mammal by a dog.
While fox hunting has long been recognised as a threat to the welfare of wild mammals, the welfare of fish captured in commercial fisheries receives far less attention. Public perception of fish sentience lags far behind that of mammals, even though scientific evidence around fish sentience does not support such unequal treatment. This makes it important that advocates and advisors draw attention to the need to consider fish welfare in wider policy-making – the welfare implications are significant.
WAWC has recently responded to three DEFRA consultations covering:
• the proposed North Sea and Channel Sprat Fisheries Management Plan
• the proposed Southern North Sea and Channel Skates and Rays Fisheries Management Plan
• the proposed Southern North Sea Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan.
Fisheries Management Plans are evidence-based action plans designed to achieve sustainable fisheries. Each Plan outlines short-term actions and long-term visions. They seek to reduce vulnerability of different fish stocks to over-exploitation, maintain the economic value of their fisheries and to assess and monitor the state of the different fish stocks. These plans apply to both commercial and recreational fishing and also address broader environmental, economic and societal concerns.
An acknowledgment of animal welfare would have considerable impact in considerations relating to discards and bycatch and their survivability, as well as to fish that are caught for release. It would also align with other recent Government commitments, legislation and regulations that have been introduced to improve the welfare of wild animals, particularly those that are trapped.
Incorporation of animal welfare concepts into Fisheries Management Plans may not be a statutory requirement of the Fisheries Act 2020, but WAWC asserts that it is within the spirit of the Act. At the very least, the welfare of caught fish stock would fall under a societal concern and thus merit inclusion in discussions surrounding the Plans. This concern is evidenced by the increasing public recognition that fish are sentient and are capable of experiencing negative and positive emotional states. Acknowledging this would complement and support the delivery of the Plans and their objectives, which include identifying actions to address wider issues such as environmental or social and economic considerations.
See our responses here.