When Catch and Release Is Controversial: Scotland’s Push to Reconsider Fish Welfare
- The Fly Box LLC
- Jun 5, 2025
- 3 min read
Scotland Reconsiders the Ethics of Angling
In May 2025, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) formally recommended that the Scottish Government review legal exemptions that allow recreational fishing to bypass standard animal cruelty laws. The goal is to assess whether common angling practices, including the use of hooks, catch and release, and fish handling, should be more tightly regulated in light of modern science surrounding fish sentience.
