Aquaculture Welfare

Salmon Welfare at Harvest - Electrical Stunning

Electrical stunning of salmon at harvest provides a faster pathway to unconsciousness than some alternatives but requires precise calibration.

Key Facts

Electrical stunning causes immediate loss of consciousness when parameters are correct
Incorrect current frequency or duration can cause pain without unconsciousness
Water bath electrical stunning allows high throughput in commercial harvest settings
Calibration verification and regular equipment maintenance are welfare requirements
Welfare monitoring during stunning including eye-roll and opercular reflex assessment verifies efficacy

Welfare Considerations

Electrical stunning at salmon harvest is effective when correctly calibrated but requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure reliable welfare outcomes. Regular verification that stunning parameters achieve unconsciousness is not optional.

What You Can Do

Support salmon certifications requiring stunning efficacy monitoring
Advocate for electrical stunning parameter standards in aquaculture welfare legislation
Choose salmon from producers with transparent harvest welfare monitoring records