Pre-harvest crowding of salmon for slaughter is a critical welfare period. Evidence-based protocols minimise stress and suffering during this vulnerable phase.
Pre-harvest handling represents the culmination of welfare impacts for farmed salmon. Crowding stress, asphyxiation during hauling, and slaughter procedures all contribute to welfare outcomes. Implementing evidence-based harvest protocols that minimise crowding duration, maintain water quality, and ensure effective stunning significantly improves salmon welfare.