
Animal Health and Welfare
Assessment of animal welfare in stunning and slaughtering of farmed fish
Commissioned: 14.01.2025
Publishing: 23.05.2025
Key Message:
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) shall conduct a knowledge summary and assessment of animal welfare related to methods and equipment for stunning and slaughtering of farmed fish, primarily at slaughterhouses.
The assignment is commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, who require updated knowledge on methods to ensure stunning and slaughtering of various farmed fish species without causing unnecessary stress and pain.
The Food Safety Authority also requires a scientifically based assessment of what should be included in the documentation of stunning and slaughter methods of farmed fish.
Assignment:
VKM is commissioned to assess what criteria should be used for documenting methods to ensure that fish are stunned and slaughtered painlessly and with minimal stress. VKM will also evaluate how anatomical, physiological, and behavioral differences between fish species affect animal welfare during stunning and slaughtering, and how this might influence the criteria for documentation. Furthermore, VKM will summarize knowledge and risk perspectives on animal welfare concerning methods for stunning and slaughtering relevant for farmed fish in Norway.
Project group:
- Åsa Maria Espmark, Panel for Animal Health and Welfare (Scientific leader)
- Endre Grimsbø, external expert, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Tor Atle Mo, Panel for Animal Health and Welfare
- Sonal Patel, Panel for Animal Health and Welfare
- Marco Antonio Vindas, Panel for Animal Health and Welfare
- Kristin Opdal Seljetun, VKM Secretariat (Project manager)
The risk assessment will be approved by the Panel for Animal Health and Welfare and is scheduled to be published May 23, 2025.