Tilapia slaughter methods vary widely globally, with many operations using inhumane live chilling or bleeding without prior stunning — improving slaughter welfare is a tractable and high-impact intervention.
Tilapia slaughter welfare varies enormously across the global industry. Live chilling in ice and water causes prolonged conscious distress as fish thrash before losing consciousness. CO2 narcosis before slaughter is aversive — fish avoid it when given the choice. Electrical stunning is the most welfare-positive option and is cost-effective at scale. Consumer demand for welfare-certified tilapia is the most effective lever for driving industry-wide improvement.