Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare

The welfare of farmed salmon in the minutes before and during slaughter is one of the most neglected but numerically significant issues in aquaculture welfare, affecting hundreds of millions of fish annually.

Key Facts

Norway produces around 1.5 million tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon annually
Crowding before slaughter causes severe stress evidenced by cortisol spikes and injury
Electrical stunning before slaughter renders fish insensible within milliseconds if done correctly
Percussive stunning - a blow to the head - is used in some facilities and is effective when accurate
CO2 anaesthesia before slaughter causes aversion and distress before unconsciousness
RSPCA Assured salmon must be stunned before slaughter - a standard not universal globally

Welfare Considerations

Farmed salmon pre-slaughter welfare is a significant issue given the scale of production. Fish crowded into harvest nets experience density-related stress, with cortisol responses documented at extreme levels. CO2 bath anaesthesia, widely used as a 'humane' method, actually causes aversion behaviour - fish attempt to escape the water - suggesting distress before unconsciousness. Electrical stunning and percussive stunning, when correctly applied, cause rapid insensibility and are more humane. Consumer demand for RSPCA Assured or equivalent certification drives adoption of better stunning practices across the industry.

What You Can Do

Choose RSPCA Assured farmed salmon when purchasing to support stunning standards
Ask salmon producers and retailers about their pre-slaughter stunning protocols
Support Aquatic Life Institute's fish welfare certification campaigns
Reduce farmed salmon consumption and choose better-welfare alternatives
Advocate for mandatory electrical or percussive stunning standards in salmon slaughter