The pre-slaughter period is a major welfare bottleneck for farmed salmon. Crowding, air exposure, and handling during harvest can cause acute suffering before any stunning method is applied.
Pre-slaughter management is a welfare-critical phase that receives inadequate attention compared to farming conditions. Even salmon raised in excellent welfare conditions can experience severe suffering in the final hours of their lives. The industry has a clear responsibility to minimize crowding duration, air exposure, and the gap between crowding and effective stunning. Consumer-facing certifications should include pre-slaughter welfare requirements, and producers should be required to monitor and report on stunning effectiveness.