7. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve welfare standards for goldfish? OQ58444

Thank you. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on owners and keepers to meet their animals' welfare needs. I've asked the Wales animal health and welfare framework group to give me a view on giving animals, specifically goldfish, as prizes.  

Thank you, Minister. As you are aware, it is still, unfortunately, common practice for goldfish to be given as prizes in Wales at showgrounds, fetes and other events, in what are dubbed as 'spur-of-the-moment games'. Very often, due to lack of preparation on the new owner's part, fish given away as prizes often suffer quite badly. They can sadly experience shock and oxygen starvation, and they can even die from changes in their water temperature, which leads to many of them dying before they even arrive at their new would-be homes. Furthermore, people who are given goldfish as prizes do not normally have an aquarium already set up at home, so may keep their fish in unsuitable environments, and some may even get illegally dumped in local waterways. Nine of Wales's 22 councils have already taken direct action at preventing pets, usually goldfish, from being given out as prizes, and this follows on from an RSPCA campaign last year, where about 9,000 residents asked their local authorities to ban this practice. I believe, in England, 27 councils have taken action in implementing restrictions or outright bans. However, in Wales, national legislation remains the best option to end this practice completely, and with this in mind, Minister, will you provide an update on the Welsh Government's view of a national ban on animals being given as prizes? Thank you.

Yes. Thank you. You're quite right: local authorities do have the power to ban the practice of giving animals as prizes on their land. I'm not quite sure how many you thought out of the 22. I think it's five; I'm not quite sure if you said nine, but my understanding is it's five at the moment, but it may have increased and you may be correct. As I say, I have asked the Wales animal health and welfare framework group to consider this matter. I did ask—. It's probably about three years now, but you can imagine, with the COVID pandemic and everything that's happened, this had slipped down the agenda. But I know a paper looking at what we could do has now been issued to members, so, as soon as I have their views, I'll be very happy to update Members.