Methods of killing fish - whether for food, euthanasia, or population management - vary enormously in their welfare impact, and evidence-based guidance exists for more humane practices.
Fish killing welfare is an area where significant improvement is achievable with relatively simple changes in practice. The widespread use of live chilling without prior stunning in both commercial and recreational contexts is a welfare concern: fish placed directly into ice slurry remain conscious for minutes while cardiovascular function slows and brain activity continues, experiencing cold-induced pain during this period. Percussive stunning, when performed correctly with sufficient force to cause immediate unconsciousness, is a simple, low-cost alternative. The 'ikejime' Japanese technique of rapid brain destruction provides welfare-optimal killing that also improves meat quality - a convergence of welfare and culinary interests that could drive adoption. Regulatory frameworks for fish killing lag substantially behind those for mammals and birds despite fish sentience recognition advancing in the scientific community.