How farmed fish are killed at slaughter has profound welfare implications, as many current methods cause prolonged suffering.
Many farmed fish are still killed by methods that cause prolonged periods of consciousness and distress, including asphyxiation in air or on ice. Effective stunning before killing is the critical welfare intervention. Percussive stunning is effective but labour-intensive; electrical and mechanical stunners offer scalable alternatives. Implementation gaps remain significant, particularly in smaller operations and in regions outside Europe.