Welfare of farmed fish at slaughter

Fish farming in the UK has grown rapidly over the past 30 years. The combined production of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout in 1999 was approximately 200,000 tonnes, compared to 30,000 tonnes in the early 1970s. In most instances, productivity and good carcase quality go hand in hand with high welfare standards and, certainly, the growth and consolidation of the fish farming industry has led to an increased awareness of the importance of good husbandry and management practices. This article describes the principal welfare considerations relating to farmed fish production, both in the period leading up to, and at the time of slaughter.