Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare Standards

Welfare standards specifically addressing the pre-slaughter period for farmed salmon are increasingly incorporated into certification schemes.

Key Facts

The five domains framework is being applied to salmon pre-slaughter welfare assessment
Pre-slaughter indicators include crowding stress, handling injuries, and time to stunning
Electronic stunning immediately renders fish unconscious before killing
Cold water narcosis is not considered adequate welfare-positive pre-slaughter management
Welfare at slaughter is increasingly required for aquaculture certification

Welfare Considerations

The pre-slaughter period represents concentrated welfare risk for farmed salmon. Crowding, handling, transfer, and the period before stunning all impose welfare costs. Setting standards specifically for pre-slaughter welfare - including maximum crowding duration, handling protocols, and stunning requirements - ensures that fish welfare is protected at this critical final stage.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification schemes requiring pre-slaughter welfare standards
Advocate for mandatory stunning requirements in salmon slaughter regulations
Choose salmon certified under schemes with explicit pre-slaughter welfare criteria