© Scottish Sea Farms
The Scottish Government’s new guidance on the slaughter of farmed salmon has been welcomed by animal welfare groups, but campaigners warn it lacks the legal backing needed to prevent widespread fish suffering.
While farmed land animals are covered by clear, enforceable legislation that governs their treatment at the time of killing, no such species-specific legal framework exists for farmed fish, despite scientific consensus that fish feel pain and fear.
The long-awaited guidance, recently published, outlines how farmed salmon should be treated at slaughter, but with no legal obligation to follow it and no penalties for breaching it. The Humane League, alongside eight campaigners, has written a letter informing the government that millions of fish remain at risk of suffering at the time of slaughter.
New guidelines welcomed, but legal gaps remain
“This guidance is a welcome and long-overdue step in the right direction, but it falls short of what’s needed. Every day, sentient fish are being killed without species-specific legislation that makes it a legal requirement to do this as humanely as possible. It shouldn’t just be discouraged to not follow agreed higher welfare procedures – it should be illegal," said Georgie Hancock, public affairs lead at The Humane League UK, in a press release.
The case for improved legislation is supported by senior salmon industry figures. In a Scottish parliamentary reception in January, Ronnie Soutar, head of veterinary services at Scottish Sea Farms said: "There is clear recognition within the sector that fish are sentient [...] legislation in this area would be welcomed."
Additionally, the Scottish government’s animal welfare commission has recommended the government adopt “specific legislative provision” for “the welfare of farmed fin fish at the time of killing, reinforcing existing good practice.” This follows the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) recommending on numerous occasions the need for species-specific slaughter legislation for farmed fish, including mandatory stunning requirements, mandatory CCTV in fish slaughterhouses and appropriate training for professionals involved in the slaughter process.
Fish remain unprotected without law
Investigations by groups including Animal Equality and Compassion in World Farming between 2021 and 2025 have uncovered repeated welfare breaches on Scottish salmon farms, such as fish being cut while conscious, entering stun-kill machines incorrectly and suffocating during slaughter.
While the new guidance may raise awareness among producers and help reduce welfare breaches, campaigners warn that, without legal enforcement, farms that fail to comply are unlikely to face consequences.
“The release of official guidance on the slaughter of farmed fish is a first step. However, it must be followed without delay by comprehensive, species-specific legislation. Farmed fish must be afforded the same legal protections as other farm animals – protections that are unambiguous, enforceable and supported by effective penalties for breaches. In the absence of such legal measures, farmed fish remain acutely vulnerable at the point of slaughter, a stage at which they are most at risk of suffering,” said Lorraine Platt of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation.
