Slaughter methods for farmed salmon have significant welfare implications, and the transition to percussive stunning is a major advance for fish welfare.
The shift from unstunned harvest - where salmon remain conscious during ice slurry immersion and die slowly - to percussive stunning is one of the most significant recent advances in farmed fish welfare. Conscious fish subjected to crowding, air exposure, and asphyxiation experience significant stress and likely pain. Effective stunning eliminates this suffering at the moment of slaughter. Consumer and retailer pressure for certified humane slaughter has accelerated industry adoption beyond what regulation alone achieved.