The pre-slaughter period is one of the highest-risk welfare phases in salmon farming, with crowding, out-of-water exposure, and handling causing significant stress before death.
Pre-slaughter welfare in salmon farming has historically been poor relative to what is known about fish sentience and stress responses. The transition to effective stunning methods represents the most significant welfare improvement available in the sector. Percussive stunning (delivered by mechanical or manual blow to the head) or electrical stunning that produces immediate insensibility, followed by immediate gill cutting and bleeding, is now demonstrated to minimize suffering duration. Certification schemes including RSPCA Assured and Global GAP require improved slaughter methods, and leading retailers are now specifying these as procurement requirements.