Aquaculture Welfare

Farmed Salmon Welfare at Harvest Electrical

Electrical stunning before slaughter is becoming the gold standard for salmon welfare at harvest - adoption is growing but remains incomplete globally.

Key Facts

Percussive stunning (spiking) requires skill and causes significant variation in unconsciousness
Electrical stunning delivers consistent, rapid unconsciousness within 1-2 seconds
The STANSAS electrical stunner is widely used in Norwegian and Scottish salmon farming
Verification of unconsciousness before gill cutting is achievable through gill movement assessment
CO2 and chilled water immobilisation cause prolonged distress before unconsciousness

Welfare Considerations

The method of slaughter is the most acute welfare intervention point in salmon farming. Electrical stunning that reliably delivers rapid unconsciousness before killing eliminates the most intense welfare cost of salmon harvest.

What You Can Do

Support RSPCA Assured and other certifications that mandate electrical stunning for salmon
Advocate for mandatory welfare at slaughter standards in salmon farming legislation
Choose Scottish and Norwegian certified salmon from farms using electrical stunning