The pre-slaughter handling of farmed salmon involves crowding, pumping, and transport that cause significant acute stress and welfare compromise before death.
Pre-slaughter handling represents an acute welfare crisis point in salmon aquaculture. The crowding, pumping, air exposure, and handling involved in harvest operations expose fish to extreme, cumulative stressors in their final hours of life. Welfare improvements at this stage — including gentler crowding equipment, reduced air exposure, and electrical stunning immediately before slaughter — are technically feasible and in some cases commercially beneficial through improved flesh quality. Regulatory requirements for pre-slaughter handling standards, alongside industry adoption of best practice, can meaningfully reduce this acute suffering.