How farmed salmon are killed at slaughter has major welfare implications. Evidence-based stunning methods can eliminate or minimise suffering at this critical moment in the production cycle.
The welfare stakes at slaughter are high because the number of animals involved is enormous and the potential for suffering is real. Salmon killed by live chilling in ice slurry may remain conscious for up to 10 minutes, experiencing acute physiological stress. CO2 narcosis, another common method, induces an aversive experience before loss of consciousness. By contrast, properly applied percussive stunning renders fish immediately insensible. The challenge is scale: industrial slaughter systems must achieve reliable stunning across millions of fish. Monitoring, calibration, and audit are essential to ensure methods work as intended. Welfare at slaughter is an area where industry practice is improving but significant gaps remain.