Humane slaughter methods for farmed fish require species-specific approaches, with significant variation in the effectiveness and welfare outcomes of methods used across different species.
Fish slaughter welfare has advanced significantly in the past two decades, driven by growing recognition of fish sentience and regulatory pressure in progressive jurisdictions. However, the diversity of farmed fish species means that validated species-specific stunning methods are needed - what works for salmon may not be appropriate or effective for tilapia or sea bass. The key welfare principle is that fish should be rendered unconscious before killing. Achieving this reliably across all commercial species and scales of production remains a work in progress.