Fish Slaughter and Stunning Methods

The vast majority of farmed and wild-caught fish are killed without prior stunning, experiencing a prolonged death by suffocation, CO2 narcosis, or ice that may involve significant suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 73 billion farmed fish are killed annually without pre-stunning
Wild-caught fish typically die by suffocation over minutes to hours
CO2 narcosis causes aversion responses before unconsciousness — fish try to escape
Electrical stunning renders fish immediately insensible if properly applied
EFSA concluded that fish have nociceptors and respond to noxious stimuli

Welfare Considerations

The absence of pre-stunning in fish slaughter represents one of the largest welfare issues in global food production by number of individuals affected. Whether dying in nets, in ice slurry, or by CO2 exposure, fish experience a prolonged death that would be unacceptable for land animals. The evidence for fish pain has strengthened considerably, yet the regulatory and commercial response has been slow. Percussion and electrical stunning methods are available and cost-effective.

What You Can Do

Choose fish products from suppliers committed to pre-slaughter stunning
Support legal requirements for pre-stunning in fish slaughter
Advocate for fish welfare inclusion in all animal welfare legislation
Reduce fish consumption to decrease the scale of unstunned slaughter
Engage with retailer and certification body campaigns on fish welfare