Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Crowding Standard: Industry Progress

Industry adoption of pre-slaughter crowding standards represents measurable progress in salmon welfare at the most critical phase.

Key Facts

Norwegian Salmon Fact programme includes welfare indicators at pre-slaughter crowding
Crowding duration limits and minimum water volume requirements are included in leading certification
Camera monitoring of pre-slaughter crowding provides welfare documentation for certification
Consumer-facing welfare labels require audited pre-slaughter welfare performance

Welfare Considerations

Standardised pre-slaughter crowding protocols with verified compliance are a significant industry welfare advance. Moving from voluntary guidance to audited certification creates accountability and drives continuous improvement. Consumer demand for verified pre-slaughter welfare drives market differentiation.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon from schemes with audited pre-slaughter welfare standards
Support development of international salmon welfare certification standards
Advocate for pre-slaughter welfare requirements in national aquaculture regulations