Aquaculture Welfare

Salmon Pre-Slaughter Crowding: Welfare Research

New research on reducing welfare impacts of crowding salmon during the pre-slaughter period.

Key Facts

Pre-slaughter crowding is necessary for harvest but causes acute stress, scale loss, and exhaustion
Research shows even brief crowding at high densities causes measurable cortisol responses in salmon
Pre-crowding feed withdrawal (24-48 hours) reduces gut content but extends stress-related suffering
New harvest systems with minimal crowding time are being developed by welfare-focused producers

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter crowding is a significant and largely avoidable welfare challenge. Innovating harvest systems to minimise crowding duration and density, combined with stunning immediately on removal from water, represents the current welfare frontier for salmon slaughter.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare standards that include pre-slaughter handling protocols
Choose certified salmon from producers with documented pre-slaughter welfare procedures
Advocate for mandatory stunning immediately on removal from water at all salmon harvest sites