Fish stunning and humane slaughter technology has advanced significantly, with electrical, percussive, and CO2 systems offering varying welfare outcomes across different farmed species.
Farmed fish slaughter welfare is one of the most numerically significant animal welfare issues, affecting hundreds of billions of animals annually worldwide. Ice slurry - the most common method globally - causes slow death as the fish loses the ability to regulate body temperature, potentially remaining conscious for several minutes. Electrical and percussive stunning cause rapid unconsciousness when correctly applied. The welfare case for replacing ice slurry with rapid stunning methods is strong based on fish pain science. Consumer demand and certification scheme requirements are the primary drivers of adoption since regulatory requirements remain weak globally.