What precise post-capture technique is mandated to minimize suffering and uphold 'Ihsan' (excellence) for commercially harvested fish before processing?
The precise post-capture technique mandated to minimize suffering and uphold 'Ihsan' for commercially harvested fish before processing is the immediate and effective stunning of the fish, followed by rapid bleeding. Stunning is the process of rendering a fish instantaneously insensible, meaning it loses consciousness and cannot perceive pain or fear. Two primary methods are employed for effective stunning: percussive stunning and electrical stunning. Percussive stunning involves delivering a precise, forceful blow to the fish's head, directly impacting and damaging the brain. This results in immediate and irreversible unconsciousness. Electrical stunning involves applying a controlled electric current through the fish's brain. The current must be precisely calibrated in terms of voltage, amperage, and frequency to induce an immediate epileptic seizure and brain dysfunction, thereby rendering the fish unconscious without causing undue stress or injury before insensibility. Immediately following effective stunning, while the fish remains completely insensible, rapid bleeding, also known as exsanguination, is performed. This involves severing major blood vessels, typically the gill arches, to ensure the swift and complete drainage of blood. This step ensures the fish's death while unconscious and also contributes to the quality and hygiene of the processed product. The combination of instantaneous stunning and immediate exsanguination ensures that the fish experiences minimal to no suffering, thereby fully upholding the principle of 'Ihsan' through a humane and excellent dispatch process.