Scottish Government issues updated guidance on fish welfare at time of killing
The Scottish Government has issued updated guidance on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter or killing, applying specifically to salmon farming operations across Scotland.
Published on 17 July, the guidance is issued under Section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and outlines expected standards of good practice to minimise pain, distress, or suffering during slaughter, euthanasia, culling, or related handling operations.
The guidance emphasises that finfish are sentient animals with cognitive function and the capacity to feel pain. It reinforces existing legislative obligations under both Scottish law and assimilated EU regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009), which requires animals to be spared avoidable suffering during killing.
The new publication covers the full range of slaughter-related operations, including stunning, transport, and culling for both commercial and welfare reasons. It draws on recent recommendations from the UK’s Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), including its 2024 update to its earlier 2014 opinion on farmed fish welfare at the time of killing.
The document specifies that “stunning” refers to any process causing unconsciousness without pain, including those resulting in instantaneous death. Activities carried out in accordance with the guidance may be considered good practice, and may be referenced in legal proceedings under the 2006 Act relating to unnecessary suffering or failure to meet welfare needs.
Although compliance is not mandatory, the Scottish Government notes that courts may consider the guidance relevant in assessing whether welfare obligations have been met. It also allows for deviation in “exceptional circumstances,” if authorised and documented by a responsible veterinary surgeon.
The guidance may be updated in future to reflect advances in technology, animal welfare science, or management practices, and is intended to support industry compliance while aligning with higher voluntary standards set out in private assurance schemes or codes of practice.
The document is available in full via the Scottish Government’s website: Welfare at the Time of Killing in Salmon Farming (2025)
