Arctic char is farmed in cold-water RAS systems in Scandinavia and Canada. Its cold-water requirements and schooling behaviour create specific welfare management needs.
Arctic char welfare benefits from their naturally schooling behaviour, which means social housing in groups is appropriate and reduces individual stress. Their cold-water requirements make RAS temperature management critical, as temperatures above optimal cause chronic stress and immune suppression. Stocking density management must account for their activity levels and oxygen demands. Nordic producers have generally adopted better welfare practices for char than exist in many other aquaculture species, including electrical stunning at slaughter. These practices provide a model for expanding char aquaculture in other regions.