The harvest of farmed Atlantic salmon involves crowding, crowding stress, and slaughter, with significant variation in welfare outcomes depending on the methods used by different producers.
Salmon harvest welfare is a high-stakes welfare event occurring for every farmed Atlantic salmon at end of production life. The crowding, pumping, and slaughter process can cause significant suffering if not managed carefully. Mandatory electrical or percussion stunning requirements, combined with limits on crowding density and duration, would substantially improve welfare outcomes at harvest across the salmon farming industry.