Farm Animals

Farmed Salmon Anaesthesia in Procedures

Anaesthesia for routine procedures in farmed salmon reduces acute pain and handling stress; adoption is growing but remains inconsistent.

Key Facts

MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) is the most widely used fish anaesthetic
AQUI-S (eugenol-based) offers a less stressful alternative for some procedures
Anaesthesia reduces cortisol and behavioural stress responses during handling
Recovery from anaesthesia carries its own welfare risks if poorly managed
Norway mandates anaesthesia for some salmon procedures; other countries lack requirements

Welfare Considerations

The use of anaesthesia in salmon aquaculture procedures represents a direct welfare improvement by reducing acute stress and pain during handling, vaccination, and sampling. However, anaesthetic induction and recovery can themselves cause stress if poorly managed. Well-designed anaesthetic protocols that minimise induction time, maintain oxygenation, and monitor recovery produce net welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes requiring anaesthesia for painful procedures
Ask salmon producers about their anaesthetic protocols
Advocate for mandatory anaesthesia requirements in fish farming regulations
Support research into improved fish anaesthetic agents and protocols
Choose salmon from producers with documented procedure welfare standards