To humanely kill a fish, decapitate it by holding the head down and severing it with a powerful motion from a sharp knife. Alternatively, you can insert the knife behind the skull and sever the spinal cord and vertebrae, which is less messy than a full decapitation., In this article we explain the three ways to humanely kill a fish for eating: percussive stunning, spiking the brain (ikejimi) or breaking the neck. Read on to learn how to implement either of these methods to kill a fish the cruelty free way. What does humanely killing actually mean?, Since fish can’t breathe outside water, quickly killing the fish is the most humane option. You don’t want the fish to be gasping for air flopping around on the shore or at the bottom of the boat, strung on a fish stringer., In this in-depth article, we examine the tricky issue of how to euthanize a fish, considering the most humane methods as well as those to avoid., Unlike traditional methods such as flushing or freezing, clove oil provides a more humane way to end your fish’s suffering. “The use of clove oil as an anesthetic for fish before performing surgery gave us the idea that it might also be used for euthanasia,” says Dr. Greg Lewbart of North Carolina State University., There are five acceptable ways to humanely euthanize a fish per the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition). Cranial concussion, decapitation, vodka, clove oil and iced very cold saltwater are all acceptable methods of euthanizing a tropical fish..