Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Welfare at Slaughter: Improving Stunning Methods

Most farmed salmon are not effectively stunned before slaughter, causing significant suffering that improved methods can prevent.

Key Facts

Carbon dioxide immersion, commonly used, is an aversive method for fish
Percussive stunning followed by gill cut is considered more humane
Norway leads in adopting electrical stunning systems for salmon
Consumer demand for higher welfare seafood is driving industry adoption

Welfare Considerations

Fish experience pain and stress. Inadequate pre-slaughter stunning means millions of salmon suffer needlessly. Electrical and percussive stunning methods are commercially viable and dramatically reduce suffering.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified under higher welfare schemes requiring effective stunning
Support aquaculture welfare certification standards
Advocate for mandatory pre-slaughter stunning legislation for farmed fish