Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare: Stunning Methods

The method of slaughter used for farmed salmon has a significant impact on welfare, and improving pre-slaughter stunning is one of the most impactful interventions available in aquaculture.

Key Facts

Salmon are the most farmed fish globally by weight, with billions slaughtered annually
Traditional methods include live chilling in ice water, which is associated with prolonged suffering
Percussive stunning followed by gill cutting is considered more humane
Electrical stunning is widely used in Norway and some other major producing countries
CO2 narcosis causes distress before loss of consciousness and is being phased out
RSPCA and other certification bodies now require effective stunning before slaughter

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of salmon at slaughter has received significant attention because of the scale of aquaculture and evidence that fish are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and distress. Methods that induce prolonged suffering before death — such as live chilling — are increasingly seen as unacceptable. Percussive or electrical stunning renders fish immediately insensible before slaughter. Consumer pressure, certification requirements, and legislative reform are driving improvements. Choosing certified salmon from operations using humane slaughter methods has real impact.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified by schemes requiring effective pre-slaughter stunning
Ask retailers about slaughter methods used on farms they source from
Support legislative requirements for humane slaughter of all farmed fish
Reduce salmon consumption or shift to less welfare-problematic protein sources