Aquaculture

Australian Barramundi Welfare in Recirculating Aquaculture

Welfare science for barramundi farmed in land-based recirculating systems in Australia and globally.

Key Facts

Barramundi are euryhaline — adapting from freshwater to full marine salinity
RAS systems allow year-round production in controlled environments
They are aggressive and territorial — size-grading is essential for welfare
Thermal requirements are narrow — welfare is compromised below 20 degrees C

Welfare Considerations

Barramundi welfare in RAS depends on temperature management, size-grading to prevent aggression, and water quality maintenance. Their territorial nature makes crowding welfare-problematic. Welfare research into barramundi is advancing with Australian aquaculture expansion. Pre-slaughter stunning is not universally practised — welfare improvement is needed at harvest.

What You Can Do

Choose barramundi from Australian producers with documented welfare standards
Advocate for mandatory stunning before slaughter in barramundi aquaculture
Support RAS aquaculture research that optimises species-specific welfare parameters