Effectiveness of electrical stunning and chilling in ice water of farmed fish.

This method has been in use for quite a while and effectively in the poultry industry. Work is being done to show its effectiveness for humane slaughter of fishes. This might also be the way to go for invertebrates such as the crab and lobster.

Aquaculture
Volume 365, Number 18 (October 2012)
	Assessing effectiveness of electrical stunning and chilling in ice water of farmed yellowtail kingfish, common sole and pike-perch
	Authors:	P. Llonch, E. Lambooij, H.G.M. Reimert, J.W. van de Vis
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Aquaculture, Volume 365, Number 18 (October 2012)
	Page Numbers:	143 – 149
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: Unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: Publisher’s Site
	Abstract:	Animals should be rendered unconscious before slaughter in order to avoid suffering or pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate an electrical stunning after dewatering to induce instantaneous unconsciousness and insensibility in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi), common sole (Solea solea) and pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca). To kill without recovery, the current was applied for 5s, followed by chilling in ice water for 10min. Loss of consciousness and sensibility were assessed by neural (EEG), physiological (ECG) and behavioural parameters. An epileptiform insult was observed in all yellowtail kingfish (n=27), common sole (n=25) and pike-perch (n=25) after administering a current of 0.54±0.12 Arms(124V dc and 11 Vrmsac; 100Hz), 0.65±0.23 Arms(98V dc and 8.4 Vrmsac; 100Hz) and 0.75±0.24 Arms(144V dc and 13 Vrmsac; 100Hz) during 1s through the head of individual fish, respectively.
	Citation:	P. Llonch, E. Lambooij, H.G.M. Reimert, J.W. van de Vis . Assessing effectiveness of electrical stunning and chilling in ice water of farmed yellowtail kingfish, common sole and pike-perch. Aquaculture, Volume 365, Number 18 (October 2012), pp. 143-149, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=450883FD825B209A5FB5&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=450883FD825B209A5FB5