Invisible Suffering: Why Animal Ethics Must Confront the Welfare of Farmed Fish in the Global South
Abstract
Abstract Fish are the most farmed and most killed animals on the planet yet remain largely invisible in mainstream ethical debate. This neglect is especially acute in low-and middle-income countries, where billions of fish are farmed each year under poor or unknown welfare conditions. This article argues that contemporary animal ethics has failed to adequately engage with the reality of fish suffering in these contexts and that its continued omission threatens the moral credibility and global relevance of the field. Drawing on examples from aquaculture in Egypt and Kenya, I outline why the ethical lives of aquatic animals matter—and why justice, sustainability, and development frameworks must not bypass them.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Animal Law and Welfare
Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Philosophical Ethics and Theory
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Animal Ethics
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1–4
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN