Fish slaughter methods vary enormously in their welfare impact. Scientific evidence supports specific stunning approaches that minimize suffering before death.
Fish slaughter welfare is one of the most significant and tractable welfare improvements available in aquaculture. The difference between humane and inhumane slaughter methods in welfare terms is enormous — the difference between immediate insensibility and prolonged distress lasting minutes. The barrier to improvement is primarily economic and cultural rather than technical — effective stunning equipment exists and has been successfully deployed in large-scale salmon processing. Welfare-conscious regulation requiring pre-slaughter stunning for fish is implemented in some countries and is achievable across the aquaculture sector. Consumer demand for welfare-certified products provides market incentive for producers to invest in appropriate slaughter infrastructure.