Fish are killed in vast numbers annually with welfare largely unaddressed. Evidence of fish sentience makes improving slaughter methods an urgent welfare priority for aquaculture and capture fisheries.
Fish are the most numerous vertebrate animals killed by humans, yet their slaughter receives the least welfare attention. Common methods including asphyxiation, CO2, and ice slurry involve prolonged periods of consciousness and are associated with signs of distress. Effective stunning — electrical, percussive, or spiking — renders fish immediately insensible and is technically feasible for the most commercially important species. Consumer demand for welfare-certified fish is driving improvement.