Aquaculture

Farmed Fish Slaughter Standards

Slaughter methods for farmed fish vary enormously in their welfare impact, from humane stunning to prolonged suffering on ice.

Key Facts

Ice stunning is widely used but does not induce insensibility before death in fish
Percussive stunning followed by exsanguination is the most humane method for most species
CO2 stunning causes severe stress before loss of consciousness
Electrical stunning provides rapid insensibility when correctly applied
Welfare-conscious slaughter is increasingly mandated in European aquaculture regulation

Welfare Considerations

Fish slaughter welfare lags far behind land animal standards. Ice suffocation, which is equivalent to dying from lack of oxygen at extreme cold, is still widespread. Evidence-based slaughter methods that induce rapid insensibility before death are available and should be mandated. Consumer demand for welfare-certified fish can drive adoption of better slaughter standards.

What You Can Do

Choose fish from operations using humane stunning methods
Support welfare certification schemes that include slaughter standards
Advocate for mandatory humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish
Support research on species-specific optimal stunning methods
Engage with fish slaughter as a welfare issue equal in importance to slaughter for land animals