Trout members' info

Around 17,000 tonnes of Rainbow trout is produced in Britain each year. But only a small percentage of trout farms follow the RSPCA's higher welfare standards. Most trout are reared in lower welfare conditions, with little to no legal protections - living in stressful environments with high stocking densities, badly managed disease challenges and poor water quality.

Trout are social, inquisitive, intelligent and have complex needs that should be met by their environment on a farm. Farmers can give trout good living conditions and a better quality of life by following the RSPCA welfare standards.

RSPCA Assured continues to work hard alongside the RSPCA to continually progress trout welfare and provide important education on farming to higher welfare standards. 94% of the UK population consume some form of animal produce (meat, eggs, fish or dairy), and 83% say they have no plans to remove animal produce from their diets. That’s why the work we do together with our members is more important than ever; without their collaboration, millions of animals would be farmed to lower welfare standards. Because of our collective efforts, millions of trout are living better lives. That’s something to be proud of.

The RSPCA’s trout welfare standards have recently been updated with amendments that come into effect on 23 July 2025. We hope this hub will help all of our incredible trout farming members understand these changes better and their impact. 

What is the point of the RSPCA welfare standards?

The main ambition of the RSPCA standards is to set the highest possible level of farmed animal welfare based on the latest research, knowledge and on-farm experience, whilst also remaining practical and achievable for farmers.

All RSPCA welfare standards aim to set them:

• at the limit of what may be achievable in terms of animal husbandry and commercial viability (i.e. challenging yet practical) so that they deliver improved animal welfare, above and beyond ‘standard’ or typical UK production in key areas.
• to at least represent good practice, and where possible, best practice.
• to strive to provide animals with a ‘good life’.

The new (2025) trout standards

In April 2025, we announced the upcoming publication of the new RSPCA farmed rainbow trout welfare standards. Our members are fundamental to helping us improve trout welfare, and we couldn’t make the difference we make without their support. RSPCA Assured is a voluntary scheme, and all of our members are doing their bit to make the world a better place for farmed animals. The RSPCA continually reviews all its welfare standards and aims to publish fully revised and updated versions of the standards every two years. Remaining at the forefront of farmed animal welfare is our driving aim, and implementing these progressive standards also increases the trust consumers and retailers put in RSPCA Assured. We will also continue to work to increase demand for your higher welfare produce

We know all our members want the best for the animals in their care and that farming is often under public scrutiny. As such, we hope these new standards will be a positive step forward, supporting you in achieving your higher welfare goals.

When are the new trout standards coming into effect?

The standards come into effect on Wednesday, 23 July 2025.

What are the major changes you have made to the trout welfare standards?

The main changes being introduced in the 2025 RSPCA trout welfare standards are as follows (please note this is not an exhaustive list of the new standards, simply a guide to some of the bigger changes):

• Welfare outcome assessments: Regular welfare outcome assessments must now be conducted in fresh and seawater farms by a suitably trained member of staff.
• CCTV must be installed for the whole slaughter process: CCTV systems must cover the whole slaughter process, including initial system entry and exit, stunning, killing, and as fish pass through or into the post-stun assessment area.
• An updated list of prohibited slaughter methods: The new standards prohibit specific slaughter methods, such as asphyxiation and carbon dioxide narcosis, which the RSPCA doesn’t consider to be humane. The RSPCA standards only allow the use of humane percussion methods of slaughter (blunt force trauma), or electrical methods where fish are stunned, followed by bleeding or stun/kill methods using electricity.
• New standards for the use of non-medicinal treatments: A number of new standards have been introduced relating to the use of non-medicinal treatments for sea lice and gill disease. They will only apply to farmers rearing seawater rainbow trout (as of January 2025, just one member is doing this).
• Improved checks for moribund fish with prompt humane culling where required: A new standard that specifically focuses on moribund (sick or dying) fish requires daily checks for moribund fish in all tanks and enclosures, with prompt, appropriate action (e.g. removal and humane culling) taken where required.
• An increased focus on reducing the need for antibiotic use: The RSPCA recognises the industry’s previous and ongoing work to encourage responsible use of antibiotics. A number of new standards have been included relating to responsible antibiotic use. The use of antibiotics must be reviewed annually or at the end of a production cycle. In light of the findings of the antibiotic use review, a written action plan aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics through improvements in animal husbandry must be developed and implemented.

Will there be any support available to help RSPCA Assured members implement the new standards?

• We recognise some of the new standards will require members to make adjustments, so it’s really important we provide enough time to make the necessary changes, and that we support and advise them during this process.
• New, potential or existing RSPCA Assured members who are in need of support or advice on how they can meet the new trout standards are encouraged to contact the RSPCA Assured’s farming and technical engagement team, who are very happy to help.

You’ve introduced a requirement for antibiotic review plans in this new version of the standards. We already maintain and update veterinary health and welfare plans (VHWPs) - is this extra paperwork really necessary?

• We appreciate that this might be an additional task, but it’s a vital and worthwhile one.
• The antibiotic review plan is designed to fit within the VHWP, but as its own dedicated section, given its importance. This is to ensure it is explicitly reviewed at the end of each production cycle or on an annual basis.
• It’s widely accepted that antibiotics must be used responsibly across all farming sectors, and the new antibiotic review plans are a way of ensuring this is done.
• For example, keeping records and carrying out regular reviews can highlight where husbandry practices, or other preventative measures such as increased biosecurity or vaccination, can improve the health and welfare of fish, reducing or even removing the need for antibiotics.
• We hope the reviews will be beneficial to trout farmers and they’ll find spending the additional time on them worthwhile.

Slaughter equipment on trout farms is often moved between different tanks or ponds rather than having a facility set up in one place. How do you suggest trout farmers install CCTV in this situation?

• We suggest looking at camera options such as GoPro, which can be moved to different locations as required.
• If an RSPCA Assured member has difficulty meeting this standard, we encourage them to contact RSPCA Assured’s farming and technical engagement team, and we will offer tailored advice and support.

What’s the point of the on-farm welfare outcome assessments?

• The process of measuring and recording the welfare of the fish, known as welfare outcome assessments (WOAs), is extremely important as it helps ensure the resources we provide and management practices implemented are effective in improving fish welfare.
• WOAs might include checking and recording the condition of fins, skin and eyes.
• WOAs are already requirements of the RSPCA welfare standards for other commonly farmed animals - including laying hens, chickens, pigs and dairy cattle. We recognise that WOAs for fish will require them to be handled (terrestrial animals can be visually assessed from a distance). But it’s worth this extra step as the data collected will be used to provide benchmarking for producers so they can see how they compare with others, and will help inform future versions of the welfare standards.
• We acknowledge that the requirement for WOA checks might look like yet another task for already-stretched farm staff to complete. For this reason, we hope that most, if not all, the checks required as part of the new WOAs can be done at the same time as other processes and handling events (in fact, this is encouraged to minimise the number of times fish are handled), so, in reality, it will only represent a small increase in workload. For example, some checks can be done at the same time as fish are being graded or vaccinated, and fish may already be sedated in order to keep stress to a minimum.
• We also anticipate that the information gathered from the WOAs will help staff identify and respond to any problems more quickly, improving the health and welfare of fish via the veterinary health and welfare plan and reducing the risk of mortality. This could potentially save both time and money later on.
• The standards relating to WOAs will be developed and refined in future, so we welcome feedback from RSPCA Assured members on their experience of implementing them and how they can provide even more benefits to both farmers and fish welfare.
• If an RSPCA Assured member has difficulty meeting this standard, we encourage them to contact RSPCA Assured, and we will provide tailored advice and support.
• The welfare outcome assessment standards in this edition of the standards focus on the time the fish are being grown on trout farms.
• In future, we may also develop WOA to be recorded at the time of slaughter. These may be included in the next version of the standards, following further research and consultation.

Why can fish no longer have no more than one non-medicinal treatment within 28 days (unless approved by a veterinarian)?

• We understand that non-medicinal treatments are sometimes repeated in close succession if, for example, a fish has sea lice after one treatment.
• However, a scientific study has shown that when thermal treatments are repeated within a short period of time, the number and significance of injuries to fish increase.
• Repeated handling in a short timeframe is also known to cause excess chronic stress that can negatively impact fish welfare.
• By requiring explicit veterinary approval, the standards help ensure non-medicinal treatments are only carried out when absolutely necessary and will benefit the fish.
• The standards relating to non-medicinal treatments for sea lice and amoebic gill disease will only apply to farmers rearing seawater rainbow trout, and currently just one RSPCA Assured trout member. This company was given the opportunity to provide feedback when the standards were being developed

I am concerned that the requirement for crowding* prior to non-medicinal treatments of fish to be clearly recorded using CCTV would not be possible due to poor light or weather conditions. Why have you included this?

• If CCTV footage is unclear simply because of poor weather conditions at the time, this will be considered a compliance.
• Recording CCTV footage of the crowd is a vital part of demonstrating that fish are in good health before a treatment or are not being over-crowded, for example. Overcrowding is a concern for welfare as it causes an increased chance of physical damage to the fish, increased stress and higher oxygen demand.
• If an RSPCA Assured member experiences difficulty meeting this standard, for example, if their vessel doesn’t have the capability to use CCTV, we encourage them to contact RSPCA Assured, and we will offer advice and support.

* Crowding in this context is when the net is lifted and the fish are held in a smaller volume of water, making it easier to remove them.

Understanding CCTV and why the standards require it

From 22 July 2025, CCTV systems must cover the whole slaughter process, including initial system entry and exit, stunning, killing, and as fish pass through or into the post-stun assessment area.

CCTV is a vital tool for the monitoring and enforcement of standards during the stunning and slaughter processes. It is also an extremely effective way to help protect animal welfare. This has already been shown in abattoirs for terrestrial animals, which have had to have CCTV under the RSPCA welfare standards since 2011, and now it’s a legal requirement. This change has played an important role in safeguarding animal welfare and showed there could be an appetite for making the presence of CCTV a legal requirement for fish at the time of slaughter at some point in the future.

CCTV footage can also be useful for training purposes and for providing records to assurance scheme assessors and other inspectors.

Members of the public are very supportive of mandatory CCTV in abattoirs and during the slaughter process due to the reassurance it provides that animal welfare standards are being met. So not only will these standards progress fish welfare, they will also help you with your marketability and appeal to consumers - we strongly believe implementing these progressive standards will help increase the trust consumers and retailers put in RSPCA Assured.

Some members have mentioned concerns relating to the use of CCTV and GDPR compliance. We have checked CCTV use with the Government, and we can confirm there are no issues with CCTV being used in a workplace to monitor animal welfare. As long as the CCTV is clearly used for a purpose (e.g. slaughter) and it is made clear to people that CCTV is in operation, there are no concerns with GDPR.