a day ago
Fish can suffer ‘intense pain', surprising new study finds
A new study reveals that fish, such as rainbow trout, suffer between 2 to 20 minutes of intense pain during slaughter for food, particularly when using air asphyxiation.
Researchers estimate that rainbow trout endure an average of 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain during air asphyxiation, a common slaughter method where fish are deprived of oxygen.
The study suggests that chilling fish in ice slurry after capture may prolong their suffering by slowing down metabolic processes and extending the time to unconsciousness.
Electrical stunning, if implemented correctly, could significantly reduce the pain experienced by fish, potentially averting 1 to 20 hours of moderate to extreme pain for every dollar spent.
The Welfare Footprint Framework is highlighted as a method to quantify and compare animal welfare interventions, providing metrics to guide cost-benefit decisions and improve slaughter practices.
