Aquaculture

Farmed Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare Standards

Current and emerging standards for ensuring good welfare during the pre-slaughter period for farmed Atlantic salmon.

Key Facts

Pre-slaughter crowding, air exposure, and handling cause significant acute stress in salmon
Electrical stunning before killing is considered the most humane current method
CO2 narcosis is widely used but is aversive before achieving insensibility
Pre-slaughter welfare protocols are increasingly required by major retailers
Welfare indicators including plasma cortisol and behavior can validate stunning efficacy

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter welfare for salmon is an area where practice has historically been poor relative to what the evidence on fish sentience demands. Progress in standards and monitoring is occurring but inconsistently across the industry.

What You Can Do

Support retailer and certification requirements for pre-slaughter salmon welfare
Advocate for mandatory stunning requirements in salmon harvest regulations
Choose salmon certified to standards with specific pre-slaughter welfare requirements