Farmed Animals

Salmon Stunning Methods: Welfare in Aquaculture Slaughter

The method of slaughter used for farmed salmon profoundly affects how much suffering occurs in the final moments of millions of fish lives.

Key Facts

Percussive stunning renders fish immediately unconscious if applied correctly
Electrical stunning can be effective but requires precise parameters
CO2 stunning causes distress before loss of consciousness
Asphyxia in air or on ice is a common but highly inhumane slaughter method
Norway requires stunning before slaughter for salmon; the UK requires it from 2024

Welfare Considerations

Fish slaughtered by asphyxia or CO2 exposure experience minutes to hours of distress before losing consciousness. Percussive stunning applied correctly causes immediate and irreversible insensibility. The welfare difference between methods is stark. Consumer demand for welfare-certified salmon drives industry adoption of better slaughter practices.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon bearing welfare certification requiring pre-slaughter stunning
Support legislation requiring humane slaughter of farmed fish
Ask retailers and restaurants about slaughter standards for their salmon
Reduce salmon consumption or choose better-welfare alternatives
Donate to organizations working on fish slaughter welfare standards