Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Stunning

Salmon are among the most farmed fish globally, yet many operations still kill fish without prior stunning, causing unnecessary suffering.

Key Facts

Norway alone produces over 1.5 million tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon annually
Percussive stunning and electrical stunning are effective pre-slaughter methods for salmon
CO2 stunning is controversial and may cause distress before loss of consciousness
RSPCA Assured certification requires effective stunning before killing for farmed salmon
Live chilling — immersing fish in ice slurry — is slow and does not guarantee rapid insensibility

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter stunning of fish is technically feasible and cost-effective, yet remains far from universal in global aquaculture. Without stunning, salmon and other fish are killed through methods that may involve prolonged consciousness during asphyxiation or bleeding. The scientific consensus has firmly established that fish can experience pain and stress. Requiring effective pre-slaughter stunning for all farmed fish is one of the highest-impact single policy changes available for aquaculture welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose farmed salmon certified to welfare standards requiring pre-slaughter stunning
Ask retailers about stunning practices in their salmon supply chains
Support legislative campaigns to mandate pre-slaughter stunning for farmed fish
Advocate for fish welfare inclusion in national food safety and animal welfare frameworks