Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare

The period immediately before slaughter is one of the highest-risk welfare periods for farmed salmon. Crowding, fasting, and stunning methods all significantly affect welfare at this critical stage.

Key Facts

Farmed salmon typically undergo extended fasting of 3-10 days before slaughter to clear intestines
Crowding during harvest causes severe acute stress measurable through cortisol and behavior
Effective stunning before slaughter is required by some regulations but compliance varies
Percussive stunning and electricity are the most welfare-appropriate methods for salmon
CO2 stunning is widely used but is now recognized as causing distress rather than painless sedation
Asphyxiation in air or on ice is still practiced in some aquaculture systems globally

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter welfare for farmed salmon is a critical welfare period where significant suffering can be prevented through better practices. Crowding stress during harvest is intense and unavoidable in current production systems, but duration can be minimized. Extended fasting causes hunger and stress that can be reduced through optimization. CO2 stunning, despite widespread use, causes significant distress as fish struggle at the surface before losing consciousness. Percussive stunning or electrical stunning implemented properly produces rapid unconsciousness before slaughter. Regulatory requirements for effective stunning before slaughter are the most impactful policy intervention available for salmon welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified to standards requiring effective stunning before slaughter
Advocate for mandatory humane slaughter regulations for farmed fish including salmon
Support retailers that source salmon only from farms with verified stunning practices
Reduce farmed salmon consumption until humane pre-slaughter treatment becomes standard