Most farmed fish are killed using methods that cause prolonged consciousness and distress, representing one of the largest unaddressed welfare issues in food production.
Fish slaughter welfare is one of the most numerically significant and least addressed animal welfare issues globally. Fish slaughtered in ice water remain conscious for many minutes as their temperature drops. Carbon dioxide methods cause a panic response in many species before unconsciousness. The availability of welfare-superior methods — including electrical stunning and percussive stunning — demonstrates that improvement is technically feasible but not yet economically incentivised across most of the industry. Consumer and retailer demand for certified humane slaughter is the primary lever for change at present.