Cermaq wins prestigious animal welfare award for humane salmon slaughter

NORWAY – Cermaq, a global leader in salmon production and a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Group, has been awarded the Special Recognition Prize by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) for its exemplary animal welfare practices in the humane slaughter of salmon. 

The award, presented during the SIAL conference in Paris, acknowledged Cermaq’s commitment to prioritising fish welfare at every production stage, particularly during the critical end-of-life phase.

“Fish welfare has always been a top priority at Cermaq,” stated Lars Galtung, Cermaq’s Chief Officer for Communication and Sustainability. 

“We are committed to humane practices throughout all stages of production, including the termination of life. Cermaq is proud to guarantee humane slaughter practices.” 

This recognition from CIWF, a leading NGO in farm animal welfare, reflects Cermaq’s proactive approach to fish welfare, particularly through its use of percussive stunning – a method regarded as more humane in ensuring a quick and painless death for fish.

The award highlights Cermaq’s influence in an industry where fish welfare standards are gaining importance among consumers and stakeholders. 

The Special Recognition Prize from CIWF acknowledges the company’s use of percussive stunning as a benchmark for ethical practices in aquaculture. 

Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, praised Cermaq’s leadership, saying, “With increasing awareness of fish sentience and the pressing welfare challenges in fish farming, it’s more important than ever to recognise companies leading the way. Cermaq’s commitment to humane stunning methods sets a standard for the industry and certification schemes worldwide.”

Henrik Duesund, Cermaq’s Global Fish Health Manager, also expressed his pride in the award, underscoring the company’s dedication to humane treatment. 

“It is an honour to receive this recognition. Our goal at Cermaq is to ensure that animals are treated with respect and care, even in their final moments. This award motivates us to continue improving our standards and practices.”

CIWF’s recognition celebrates Cermaq’s practices and highlights the importance of animal welfare in aquaculture. 

Compassion in World Farming has expanded its focus to include aquaculture in recent years, assessing welfare standards among the largest salmon farming companies worldwide.

 This award underscores the shift towards higher welfare standards, reinforcing Cermaq’s role as a leader in ethical practices within the aquaculture sector.

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