Aquaculture

Salmon Pre-Slaughter Welfare and CO2 Stunning

The welfare implications of CO2 stunning in salmon slaughter and evidence for more humane alternatives.

Key Facts

CO2 stunning causes aversive response and distress before unconsciousness
Electrical stunning and percussive stunning are less aversive alternatives
Norway has introduced regulations encouraging transition away from CO2 stunning
Pre-slaughter crowding adds significant stress to the stunning process
RSPCA Assured and ASC standards restrict CO2 use in salmon slaughter

Welfare Considerations

CO2 stunning causes demonstrable suffering and should be replaced with methods that render fish unconscious quickly and without prior distress.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon certified under standards that restrict CO2 stunning
Support research into more humane slaughter methods for fish
Advocate for regulations phasing out CO2 stunning in aquaculture