Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare

The moments before slaughter are critical for farmed salmon welfare, with method choice affecting stress levels, flesh quality, and consumer trust in aquaculture products.

Key Facts

Percussive stunning followed by immediate spiking (ikejime) is considered the most humane slaughter method for salmon
Carbon dioxide stunning causes prolonged distress before loss of consciousness and is widely criticised
Bleeding-out without prior stunning causes prolonged suffering lasting several minutes
Many Norwegian and Scottish farms now use electrical stunning as standard practice
Live chilling - immersion in ice slurry while still conscious - remains common in some markets
Research shows salmon show clear aversion responses to painful stimuli, confirming sentience

Welfare Considerations

Slaughter method profoundly affects salmon welfare. Pre-slaughter crowding, air exposure, and poor stunning all cause measurable physiological stress. Consumer pressure and certification standards are driving adoption of more humane methods, but gaps remain especially in smaller farms and less regulated markets.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified by RSPCA Assured or Global Welfare standards
Ask retailers about their supplier slaughter methods
Support campaigns for mandatory humane slaughter standards in aquaculture
Advocate for national legislation requiring effective stunning before salmon slaughter
Choose salmon from farms certified by BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) or ASC