Pre-slaughter handling and stunning of farmed Atlantic salmon significantly affects welfare at end of life. Standardising best practice across the industry is a major welfare priority.
End-of-life welfare for farmed salmon has received increasing scientific and regulatory attention. The crowding and starvation protocols preceding slaughter cause measurable suffering, and CO2 - still widely used - is now recognised as a particularly poor method given evidence of aversion prior to loss of consciousness. Electrical stunning, when properly calibrated, provides rapid insensibility. Certification schemes that mandate improved slaughter practices create market incentives for better welfare. This is one area where consumer purchasing decisions directly drive welfare improvements in commercial aquaculture.