Some fish feel excruciating pain for up to 20 minutes after catch, scientists find
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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.