The welfare of fish at slaughter is a growing area of scientific and regulatory attention, with significant room for improvement across aquaculture industries.
Fish have nociceptors and neural pathways that strongly suggest they experience pain and stress during slaughter. Live chilling in ice slurry, once standard in salmon farming, is now widely recognised as inhumane as fish remain conscious for several minutes. Percussive stunning provides immediate insensibility but must be applied accurately. Electrical stunning is effective across multiple species when parameters are calibrated correctly. Welfare-conscious slaughter reduces stress hormones, improving flesh quality as well as animal outcomes.