Contribution of bleeding to total handling stress during slaughter of Atlantic salmon

White muscle high-energy phosphate levels showed that the bleeding procedur e applied during slaughter of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) did not oversha dow the total pre-slaughter handling stress. The energy status of the muscl e seemed to increase as a result of bleeding and the bleeding per se did no t have adverse effects on flesh freshness resulting from excessive handling stress. The time for onset of rigor mortis and rigor strength were clearly related to the initial stress level and the rate of ATP depletion. The ons et of rigor in stressed fish occurred about one day earlier compared with r ested fish and the stressed fish also became stiffer.