Request for Proposals: Humane Fish Slaughter Research/Prototypes
Supports research and development of scalable, humane technologies to improve fish welfare during slaughter, emphasizing practical, verifiable solutions for use in aquaculture and fisheries.
Funder: Open Philanthropy
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | September 30, 2026 (Full proposal, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: ~$7 million total for this RFP; proposals of varying size/scope considered; $4,000 honorarium for top LOIs; duration/project size flexible.
Summary: Supports development of scalable, practical technologies to improve fish welfare during slaughter through innovative research and prototypes for humane, effective, and verifiable stunning or alternative methods.
Key Information: LOI required by July 1, 2026; only invited candidates submit full proposals.
Description
This grant opportunity seeks proposals for innovative research and technology development aimed at significantly improving the welfare of fish during capture and slaughter. The focus is on solutions that can render fish insensible to pain instantaneously, verifiably, and at scale—particularly under the operational constraints of aquaculture and fisheries. The funder is especially interested in practical approaches suitable for fishing vessels with limited resources, methods for small wild fish caught en masse, and alternatives or enhancements to current electrical stunning technologies. Pre-slaughter interventions that could plausibly benefit hundreds of millions of fish are also in scope. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged, with expertise spanning biology, engineering, aquaculture, and animal welfare science.
