In European countries, and indeed in most countries
in the world, farm animals are required to be killed in
a humane way that includes prior stunning. This
should be applied to fish also. It is unacceptable for fish
to die from asphyxiation in air because welfare will be
very poor at this time. Cooling on ice before death pro-
longs the period of poor welfare (Robb et al. 2000). The
percussive method is used for salmon, using either a
specially designed club or a mechanical stunning
device. The blow should be of sufficient force for the
fish to be immediately rendered unconscious and for it
to remain so until dead.