Yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) are a premium aquaculture species in Australia, with welfare considerations centred on their sensitivity to handling and high swimming activity requirements.
The welfare challenges of farming a highly active pelagic predator in caged conditions are substantial. Kingfish in circular cages spend significant energy swimming in circles — a stereotypic behaviour indicating environmental inadequacy. Handling procedures for health monitoring or harvest are high-risk welfare events given their extreme stress sensitivity. Crowding, confinement in shallow water and handling injuries collectively reduce welfare substantially during harvest. Percussion or electrical stunning before harvest prevents crowding-related panic and injury.