Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare Advanced

Pre-slaughter welfare for farmed Atlantic salmon involves crowding, transfer, and stunning. Each step carries welfare risks requiring specific mitigation.

Key Facts

Percussive stunning followed by gill cutting is considered the most welfare-compliant method
CO2 anaesthesia before electrical stunning reduces handling stress but CO2 causes distress
Pre-slaughter crowding increases cortisol and stress behaviours in the hours before death
Norwegian regulations specify stunning requirements but verification is inconsistent

Welfare Considerations

Salmon pre-slaughter welfare requires minimising crowding duration, using effective stunning verified by insensibility indicators, and training staff in welfare-compliant techniques. Consumer demand for welfare-assured salmon creates market incentives for slaughter welfare investment.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon with third-party welfare certification covering slaughter methods
Ask salmon producers about their stunning protocols and staff training programmes
Support regulatory strengthening of aquaculture slaughter welfare standards