Tilapia is the second most widely farmed fish globally, yet harvest welfare is rarely considered in production standards. Improving stunning and killing methods at harvest significantly reduces suffering.
Tilapia have been shown to respond to harmful stimuli with behaviours consistent with pain experience. Harvest by asphyxiation in air or ice is prolonged and may cause significant suffering. Transitioning to electrical pre-slaughter stunning would dramatically reduce welfare impacts with minimal cost implications.