Pre-slaughter handling of farmed salmon including crowding, pumping, and transport to slaughter creates significant welfare stress, with welfare improvements focusing on reducing handling and ensuring effective stunning.
Pre-slaughter handling creates the final welfare experience of farmed salmon's lives and is one of the most welfare-significant periods of their production cycle. Crowding and pump transfer cause acute stress and physical injury. Traditional pre-slaughter handling practices prioritized operational convenience over fish welfare. Welfare-positive pre-slaughter management uses lower crowding densities, gentler transfer methods, temperature management to reduce stress response, and effective stunning before killing. Retailer and regulatory requirements for pre-slaughter welfare standards are driving gradual improvement in commercial practices.