If we accept that fish are sentient, then we have an ethical obligation to treat fish humanely and avoid practices that have the potential to cause them pain, injury, suffering, fear or distress. In Australia, Animal Welfare or Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts cover vertebrate animals, but only some include fish, despite all fish being vertebrates. The acceptance of sentience in fish has significant implications for the treatment of fish in commercial fisheries, in recreational fishing and in fish farming. With the development of animal welfare standards for farmed Atlantic salmon, the RSPCA hopes to contribute to improving animal welfare in this latter sector where it is essential that those responsible for managing farmed fish ensure fish welfare is an integral part of every aspect of production every day.