The rapid expansion of aquaculture has emphasized the urgent need for humane slaughter practices and reliable validation tools for the loss of consciousness. Many current methods, such as asphyxiation and live chilling, fall short of ethical standards due to prolonged fish suffering and poor outcomes. Gas immersion shows modest improvements but cannot yet be classified as humane. Electrical stunning holds potential, but its effectiveness is undermined by rapid recovery times and a lack of data validating its reliability under intensive culture conditions. Percussive stunning and central nervous system destruction is a better option but lack validation at commercial scales. Anaesthetics could reduce stress yet face regulatory and consumer challenges. Studies, especially on gilthead seabream and European seabass, highlight the importance of neurological assessments to evaluate stunning efficacy. The review stresses the need for rigorous, large-scale studies and collaborative efforts to refine techniques and set industry standards for ethical, humane fish slaughter.

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Welfare assessment systems are important tools for evaluating the welfare of animals. This report provides a comprehensive review of existing welfare assessment systems for farmed fish, focusing on their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. It highlights the importance of welfare monitoring due to rising social concern and the ethical obligation to safeguard the welfare of farmed fish. Key findings include the variability of welfare indicators, scoring systems and integration models across species and farming systems. While many systems provide reliable insights into fish health, stress, and behaviour, challenges persist, including the lack of species-specific indicators, standardization of methodologies across species and production systems, and integration with farming operations. The report recommends the development of more holistic and standardized monitoring solutions to improve welfare outcomes and align with industry and regulatory expectations.

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This deliverable outlines the development of a scientifically validated and practically applicable welfare scoring system for common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during transport and harvest. Designed under the Cure4Aqua program, the scoring index leverages Operational Welfare Indicators (OWIs) identified through comprehensive literature review and a Delphi expert consultation workshop held in Prague in 2024. The study highlights critical welfare concerns, including low oxygen levels, prolonged air exposure, improper stunning, and physical impacts during transport. A multidisciplinary panel evaluated and prioritized these welfare issues, leading to the creation of quantifiable welfare metrics. These indicators are intended to support consistent welfare assessments by National Competent Authorities (NCAs) across aquaculture facilities, contributing to improved fish welfare practices and regulatory guidance.

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The relevant welfare indicators during the transport and harvest for the two aquaculture important fish species, the European seabass, Dicentrarhus labrax and the common carp, Cyprinus carpio are provided herein to develop a future monitoring framework and facilitate National Competent Authorities (NCAs) in conducting controls. The indicators have been prospected and then extracted from the meritory scientific and other publicly available literature (i.e., project, meetings and WS reports), reviewed and selected to develop a panel of robust multidisciplinary operational welfare indicators. For easier orientation and technical approach, selected indicators are grouped into three main categories: 1. Resource-based indicators; 2. Management-based indicators; and 3. Animal-based indicators (overall fish population and individual fish). The selected indicators are useful to provide validated, reliable, scalable, and easy-to-use operational welfare score index and assessment method for the European seabass and common carp in transport and harvest.

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This deliverable presents an in-depth analysis of the current regulatory and non-regulatory framework governing the welfare of farmed fish during transport and harvest across the European Union and selected member states. It distinguishes between soft measures (e.g., guidelines and recommendations) and hard rules (legally binding regulations), examining how these are applied at both EU and national levels. Despite existing general regulations, a significant gap persists in species-specific welfare provisions for aquatic animals. The report reviews EU legislation, international standards (e.g., WOAH, EFSA), and national approaches in countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, and others. The analysis highlights disparities in implementation and enforcement, the influence of scientific knowledge and advocacy efforts, and identifies opportunities for policy improvement. The document emphasizes the need for harmonized and species-specific legislation to enhance the welfare of aquatic animals during critical production phases such as transport and slaughter.

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The aim of the study is to present a detailed set of specific indicators, methods of evaluation and units of measurement for the welfare assessment of farmed European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax. The study provides the user with prerequisites for welfare risk assessment, including risk tolerance, definition of uncertainty level, identification of relevant factors and elements of a risk management system. Finally, the study proposes a welfare assessment scheme, based on the welfare metrics of each specific welfare indicator, for on-growing fish that can be readily interpreted by all stakeholders and regulatory authorities involved in aquaculture.

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This study investigates the welfare of the main fish species reared in the European Union, and highlights current knowledge on fish welfare, knowledge gaps, fish needs and husbandry methods of concern for fish welfare. The study focuses on production systems and production phases in a species-specific way. Research includes a literature review, an evaluation of the regulatory framework, a stakeholders’ consultation, case studies and a SWOT analysis. Conclusions and policy recommendations relevant to EU decision-making are provided.

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