Aquaculture Welfare

Aquaculture Fish Slaughter Welfare

Fish slaughter methods vary enormously in humaneness, and effective stunning before killing is the critical welfare intervention at end of life.

Key Facts

CO2 exposure is commonly used but causes aversion and distress before unconsciousness
Electrical stunning renders fish immediately unconscious when parameters are correct
Percussive stunning is effective for some species but operator-dependent in quality
ASC certification requires stunning before killing for some salmon operations
Fish may recover consciousness between stunning and killing if intervals are too long

Welfare Considerations

How fish die at slaughter is one of the most impactful single welfare decisions in aquaculture. Effective stunning prevents the conscious experience of killing. The scale of fish slaughter - billions annually - makes slaughter welfare one of the most impactful welfare issues globally.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes requiring effective stunning at fish slaughter
Advocate for mandatory fish slaughter welfare regulations in your country
Choose seafood from producers demonstrating humane slaughter protocols