Aquatic Animals

Fish Stunning and Humane Slaughter in Aquaculture

Fish slaughter methods vary widely; evidence of fish pain capacity has driven adoption of humane stunning practices in leading aquaculture operations.

Key Facts

Asphyxiation in air or ice slurry is still widely used and causes prolonged suffering
Percussive stunning followed by spiking is fast and effective
Electrical stunning systems are used in some salmon harvesting operations
Norway and the UK have fish slaughter welfare standards; many countries do not

Welfare Considerations

Fish slaughtered by asphyxiation or live crushing in ice suffer for several minutes. Given increasing evidence of fish pain capacity, these methods are ethically indefensible. Percussive stunning, electrocution, or carbon dioxide anesthesia followed by gill cutting can minimize suffering. Consumer pressure and regulatory standards are driving improvement in leading salmon-producing countries.

What You Can Do

Choose aquaculture products from certified operations with humane slaughter
Advocate for mandatory fish stunning requirements in aquaculture regulation
Support research into fish-appropriate slaughter methods
Reduce consumption of fish species from operations without welfare certification