In March 2025, the International Aquatic Animal Welfare Working Group was officially established and held its kick-off meeting in Hangzhou, China. The initiative was jointly launched by the College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science at Zhejiang University and Catch Welfare Platform, a project coordinated by Wageningen Livestock Research, Netherlands.
The working group currently brings together more than 20 experts and scholars from China, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada. Its goal is to build an international platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in aquatic animal welfare research and practice. Through partnerships with global research institutions and industry stakeholders, the group promotes scientific exchange, joint research, and coordinated initiatives addressing key challenges in advancing aquatic animal welfare. Ultimately, the working group aims to foster innovation and drive the sustainable development of aquatic animal welfare science worldwide.