The pre-slaughter handling and stunning of farmed Atlantic salmon is a critical welfare point affecting millions of fish annually and improving rapidly through new technologies.
Pre-slaughter welfare is the most critical welfare point in salmon farming given the large numbers involved. Crowding in reduced water volumes causes hypoxia and physical injury as fish jostle. Inadequate stunning before slaughter results in fish experiencing slaughter conscious. Evidence shows salmon are sentient fish with pain responses comparable to other vertebrates. Investment in effective stunning technology has significant welfare returns at the scale of salmon farming.