Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare at Harvest Advanced

Advanced welfare standards at salmon harvest address crowding, transfer, stunning, and killing with the goal of minimising suffering at every stage.

Key Facts

The harvest sequence includes crowding, pumping, transfer, and stunning or killing
Each stage has specific welfare risks requiring targeted management
Electronic stunning renders fish immediately unconscious before killing
Percussive stunning is effective for individual fish at smaller scale
Optimal welfare requires monitoring consciousness indicators throughout the process

Welfare Considerations

Harvest represents the culmination of a production cycle during which fish have experienced multiple welfare challenges. Advanced welfare management at harvest addresses each stage of the sequence to minimise cumulative stress and ensure unconsciousness before painful procedures. The commitment to harvest welfare reflects a recognition that fish are sentient beings deserving welfare protection to the end of their lives.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture welfare certification requiring comprehensive harvest welfare standards
Advocate for mandatory stunning requirements in national salmon harvesting regulations
Choose salmon from farms with the highest welfare harvest standards