Do Fish Feel Pain?

Authors

• Andrew Rowan DPhil, WellBeing International, Inc.

Abstract

Can fish consciously experience pain despite lacking the brain structures associated with human consciousness? This article examines the scientific debate over fish sentience, including research on their nervous systems, behavioral responses to injury, and the role of different brain structures in conscious experience. It also considers the broader implications for animal welfare, fishing practices, aquaculture, and how we recognize sentience in animals whose brains differ from our own.

Recommended Citation

Rowan, Andrew DPhil (2026) "Do Fish Feel Pain?," WellBeing News: Vol. 8: Iss. 9, Article 1.
Available at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/wbn/vol8/iss9/1