Regulatory requirements for salmon pre-slaughter welfare are evolving in Norway and Scotland, with stunning before killing becoming increasingly mandatory.
Pre-slaughter welfare for Atlantic salmon has improved substantially following regulatory reform. Mandatory stunning before slaughter eliminates the prolonged conscious dying that characterised earlier practices. However, implementation quality varies across farms and slaughter vessels. The physical injury risk during pump transfer to slaughter vessels remains a welfare concern alongside stunning. Verification of effective stunning through post-stun reflex testing ensures regulatory compliance translates to actual welfare improvement. Consumer demand for welfare-certified salmon has reinforced regulatory drivers for change.