Aquatic animal advocacy at Asia for Animals 2025
By Catalina Lopez Salazar, Director of the Aquatic Animal Alliance
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of participating in the Asia for Animals Conference in Taiwan. This is one of the most important platforms for animal protection in the region, yet until now aquatic animals in the food system had never been included in the program. For the first time, a panel was dedicated to their welfare in the food system.
This was an important step. Asia produces more than 90 percent of the world’s farmed fish. Conditions in aquaculture across the continent reveal immense welfare challenges, yet these animals are rarely discussed in advocacy spaces. EAST, a member of the Aquatic Animal Alliance, recognized how critical it was to begin this conversation in Taiwan and worked to make the panel possible.
In Taiwan, one example of the urgent need for this dialogue is the widespread practice of fish tethering (Warning: Graphic images if you open the link). Fish are kept alive by having plastic cords or wires threaded through their gills and mouths, then tied together and left to struggle until sold. This method is used to display freshness at markets, but it causes prolonged suffering and highlights how little recognition there is of fish as sentient beings. Bringing these practices into the spotlight is essential if we want to build momentum for change.
The panel was moderated by Aquatic Life Institute advisor Dr. Lynne Sneddon, one of the world’s leading experts on fish sentience. We were joined by Katrin Matthes from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Project and Professor Chuan-Chin Chiao from Tsing Hua University, who spoke about cephalopod sentience. My contribution focused on the opportunities and challenges for aquatic animal advocacy in Asia. I presented statistics on the scale of aquaculture in the region, the breadth of the issue, and how the Aquatic Animal Alliance supports groups in Asia to begin engaging with aquatic animal advocacy.
About 50 participants attended the panel with live Chinese translation. The discussion that followed showed how much interest there is in this topic. Many of the questions revolved around sentience, the ethical boundaries of advocacy, and why fish should be a focus. What stood out was the agreement that aquatic animals are sentient, hence they deserve protection.
The conference itself also marked historic moments. The President of Taiwan delivered the opening keynote, the first time a head of state has opened an animal welfare conference anywhere in the world. Dr. Sneddon closed the event with a keynote on her work on scientifically proving fish sentience, where she also highlighted the Aquatic Life Institute’s benchmark as a practical tool for advocates and industry.
The audience included not only animal protection advocates but also important stakeholders from government and press. Their presence underscored how relevant aquatic animal welfare has become, and it reinforced the need for dialogue with decision makers and media. Building these conversations is vital if we want policy, industry practices, and public awareness to evolve in ways that truly improve the lives of aquatic animals.
This conference underscored for me how vital it is for farmed animal advocates to be present at broader animal welfare conferences that often focus on companion animals, entertainment, or wildlife. These spaces bring together diverse stakeholders, from NGOs to policymakers and media, and they offer a rare chance to build alliances across sectors. By showing up, we can connect our work to the wider movement, share the realities of farmed animal suffering, and generate momentum that would be harder to achieve in isolation. This cross-pollination of ideas and networks helps ensure that farmed animals are not left behind in the global conversation on animal protection.
For me, the most meaningful outcome was the chance to connect with existing Alliance members and discuss concrete next steps in countries including Taiwan, Nepal, Pakistan, and South Korea. These conversations will continue, and I believe they will be key to building momentum for aquatic animal protection across Asia.
I want to sincerely thank EAST for inviting me and for supporting the organization of such a relevant and professional conference. Their leadership ensured that aquatic animals were included in this important space and that the discussion was thoughtful, timely, and impactful.
It is also important to recognize that amazing work is already being done by groups in Asia who are leading the way for aquatic animal protection in their own contexts. In the coming months, we hope to highlight their voices through upcoming blogs so their efforts can inspire and guide others around the world.
The challenges in this region are significant. Cultural traditions, economic dependence on aquaculture, and limited awareness of fish sentience all make advocacy complex. Yet this panel showed that the gap can be bridged. By creating space for aquatic animals in mainstream animal protection discussions, we are beginning to change the narrative. Their welfare can no longer be invisible, and this conference was an important step in ensuring that aquatic animals are finally part of the conversation.