Making Waves: Key Takeaways from the 2026 International Aquaculture Law & Policy Symposium

The inaugural International Aquaculture Law & Policy Symposium, hosted by the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School, in collaboration with co-hosts Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) and the Multispecies Collective, was a resounding success! The event brought together expert policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from around the globe to explore the rapidly developing field of industrial aquaculture law and policy.

Aquatic animal advocates from more than 20 countries convened at the University of Birmingham, England on June 5, 2026, to delve into industrial animal aquaculture (i.e., factory farming of aquatic animals). The Symposium’s international perspective revealed that legal and regulatory approaches to aquaculture vary significantly worldwide, but stakeholders are nonetheless grappling with similar questions about addressing industry growth, food security, and the significant animal welfare considerations germane to aquatic animal protection.

As the animal aquaculture industry continues to expand, so does scientific and moral recognition of aquatic animals as sentient beings who experience pain and suffering. This dynamic brings aquatic animal welfare to the forefront. Aquatic animals farmed in captivity, such as finfish and shrimp, are vulnerable to many harms, like overcrowding, inability to express natural behaviors, and lack of stunning before slaughter. However, legal and policy frameworks to address these issues remain fragmented and underdeveloped across the globe, and compared to parallel fields like terrestrial animal agriculture, aquaculture remains relatively understudied. Against this backdrop and recognizing that most global aquaculture occurs outside the United States, the International Aquaculture Law & Policy Symposium created a forum for international, interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration to improve aquatic animal welfare and address the interconnected issues of environmental protection, climate resilience, technology, and public health.

Speaker Panels

The one-day Symposium began with mingling over plant-based breakfast and a warm welcome from Megan Senatori, Executive Director of CALS, and Meghan Campbell, Deputy Dean of the University of Birmingham Law School. Throughout the day, speakers emphasized the diversity and complexity of animal aquaculture, while acknowledging how existing frameworks often fail to account for aquatic animals’ unique care needs. Global perspectives underscored the variety of species farmed across the world, the many types of aquaculture systems and fragmented regulatory approaches, and common challenges shared across jurisdictions.

The Symposium kicked off with the first panel, “Aquaculture: Animals, the Environment, and Public Health,” which examined the multidimensional nature of aquaculture as it intersects with animal welfare, climate change, and human health concerns. The panel featured Daina Bray (Clinical Lecturer, Yale Law School), who spoke about her research evaluating and addressing aquaculture’s climate impacts; Kathy Hessler (Assistant Dean for Animal Law, George Washington University Law School), who discussed the animal welfare impacts of industrial aquaculture; and Clair Linzey (Deputy Director, Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics), who explored aquaculture’s ethical and public health aspects. Iyan Offor (Assistant Professor, Birmingham Law School and founder, Multispecies Collective) moderated the panel. The ensuing conversation provided the foundation for the remaining sessions, centering aquatic animals and the intersecting harms of industrial aquaculture.

The next panel, “Global Animal Aquaculture Law,” brought together experts from key aquaculture-producing regions to provide a comparative perspective and overarching lessons from international regulation. Speakers discussed the state of the industry, key laws and policies, ongoing challenges, and opportunities for aquatic animal welfare reform. The panel featured Paula Cardoso (General Counsel, Mercy for Animals) speaking on Brazil; Alice Di Concetto (Executive Director, The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy) on the EU; Mo Esan (Doctoral Researcher, University of Birmingham) on Nigeria; and Rhiddhi Patel (Policy Specialist, Fish Welfare Initiative) on India. The panel was moderated by Hira Jaleel (Visiting Assistant Professor, Lewis & Clark Law School), who also provided a United States perspective. Key takeaways included the diversity of regulatory approaches, cultural and regional influences on the industry, and the complexity of aquaculture given the different species and systems involved in farming aquatic animals on an industrial scale.

After lunch, attendees participated in the third panel, “Emerging Issues in Industrial Animal Aquaculture.” This panel explored scientific and technological advances in aquaculture and their implications for animal law, ethics, and policy. Speakers included Tom Appleby (Head of Governance and Legal Affairs, Blue Marine Foundation), who discussed the role of property law in creating marine protected areas and managing marine aquaculture; Abigail Penny (Executive Director, Animal Equality UK) on the expansion and impact of recirculating aquaculture systems; and Amy Wilson (Executive Director, Animal Law Reform South Africa) on alternatives to aquatic animal protein. The panel was moderated by Tessa Gonzalez (Director of Research and Impact, ALI), who spoke to the role of artificial intelligence in aquaculture operations to monitor and improve the welfare of individual animals. Panelists shared some of the key emerging challenges in industrial animal aquaculture and recommendations for how to address them, drawing upon their experiences advocating for aquatic animals.

The fourth and final panel, “Strategies for Advocacy,” highlighted potential and already-successful strategies for creating meaningful change in industrial animal aquaculture. Becca Franks (Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, NYU) discussed the range of aquatic animal species in aquaculture and the importance of species-specific advocacy; Shreya Padukone (Head of Programs, Animal Law Centre, NALSAR University of Law) explored research on pangasius aquaculture in India and the role of farmer engagement; and Sahana Ramdas (Associate Attorney, Hiscock Legal Aid Society) spoke about consumer protection litigation as a route to improving farmed shrimp welfare. Giulia Malerbi (Head of Global Policy, ALI) moderated the panel and contributed her perspective on octopus farming bans. The discussion captured a number of compelling approaches to advocacy; one strategy that rose to the top of the list was sharing how unique and complex aquatic animals are as individuals.

Throughout the Symposium, attendees contributed thoughtful questions and reflections during panel discussions, adding nuance and sparking new conversation. In breaks and over meals, attendees exchanged ideas, built professional relationships, and identified opportunities for future collaboration. These informal discussions provided a valuable space for participants to compare their experiences, explore ideas for future research, and connect with each other as part of a global community committed to addressing aquatic animal welfare in the emerging and expanding aquaculture sector.

Next, a Call to Action session, centered around a draft Animal Protection Blueprint for Industrial Aquaculture, brought lively discussion and attendee participation. The draft Blueprint–prepared by ALI, CALS’s Farmed Animal Protection Project, and the Multispecies Collective at the University of Birmingham Law School–establishes principles to incorporate animal welfare into aquaculture in the short term, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of animals in the system and preventing industry expansion.

The draft Blueprint set out principles along the following axes: sentience and moral consideration; welfare within interconnected governance systems; aquatic animal protection and “sustainable” food claims; environmental conditions in aquaculture; species-specific production and system design; nutrition, inputs, and upstream impacts; behavioral needs and cognitive considerations; handling, slaughter, and end-of-life; governance, law, and enforcement; and market, advocacy, and systems-level change. The Blueprint was circulated to attendees ahead of time, and the Call to Action session provided an opportunity to gather feedback and insights on the draft. Attendees worked together in small groups, with each group assigned to two of the axes, then came together to share their overall reactions and recommendations regarding the draft. That feedback is now being incorporated, and the final Blueprint will be released in the fall.

The Symposium concluded with remarks from ALI’s Head of Research Tessa Gonzalez and CALS Executive Director Megan Senatori. Attendees then gathered for a post-event reception, providing a further opportunity to network and convene over a shared commitment to advancing aquatic animal welfare.

Conclusion

The inaugural International Aquaculture Law & Policy Symposium marked an important step in establishing aquatic animal welfare and aquaculture law and policy as distinct fields of inquiry. While aquaculture’s expansion and industrialization present difficult challenges, they also present the opportunity to intervene in an emerging industry before harmful practices are entrenched. As understanding of aquatic animal cognition and behavior continues to evolve, regulatory and legal systems must account for and adapt to new evidence. Ongoing dialogue, research, and communication are essential to ensure that global law and policy frameworks keep pace with scientific, ethical, and industry developments.CALS, ALI, and the Multispecies Collective extend their sincere gratitude to the panelists who shared their expertise, and the attendees who joined us for this inaugural event. We hope that the Symposium will serve as a foundation for continued research, advocacy, and collaboration aimed at making aquaculture more humane and more sustainable in years to come.

Missed the Symposium?

You can watch recordings of all four panels on our YouTube at this link.

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law advocates and advance animal protection through the law. With vision and bold risk-taking, CALS has since developed into a world-renowned animal law epicenter. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from 30+ countries are making a difference for animals around the world. The advanced degree program is offered in-person and online. CALS is a self-funded Center within the law school operating under the Lewis & Clark College 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is able to provide these educational opportunities through donations and grants.