The welfare of farmed salmon at slaughter depends critically on effective stunning before killing, with significant variation in methods and their humaneness.
Pre-slaughter stunning is one of the most impactful welfare improvements possible in salmon farming, eliminating or greatly reducing suffering at the point of death. However, implementation quality varies: stunning equipment must be properly calibrated, staff must be trained, and stunning efficacy must be monitored. Consumer and retailer pressure for certified humane slaughter methods has driven significant industry improvements.