Slaughter methods for farmed salmon have significant welfare implications, with percussion stunning and electrical methods offering more humane outcomes than traditional asphyxiation.
Salmon slaughter welfare represents a case where the evidence for fish pain and stress response has driven genuine industry improvement. The combination of animal welfare concerns and the economic incentive of better flesh quality (stress-free fish show superior product quality) has aligned commercial and welfare interests unusually well. Percussive stunning provides immediate loss of consciousness, dramatically reducing the suffering experienced under traditional methods. However, adoption remains uneven globally, and consumer demand for verified humane slaughter can accelerate implementation.