This clear evidence of poor welfare when fish
are hooked, removed from water, handled and held
in a keep net should be taken into account by those
who fish for their own entertainment. Legislation in
many countries now makes it illegal to impose
poor welfare on fish used in experiments and farmed
fish, unless the practice can be justified. The capture of fish in open-water fishing is justified for many
people by human food requirements, but the meth-
ods used cause poor welfare to a great extent and
welfare standards are thus needed to improve such
practices.