Sea trout are farmed in similar conditions to Atlantic salmon in Norway and Scotland. Their welfare requirements overlap significantly with salmon but they are a distinct species with some different behavioural needs.
Sea trout in cage conditions show higher rates of aggressive interaction than salmon, reflecting their more territorial natural behaviour. Injuries from territorial fighting reduce skin and scale condition and create infection entry points. Crowding that prevents establishment of social spacing creates chronic stress. Welfare improvement for sea trout requires research that acknowledges their behavioural differences from salmon rather than applying salmon standards directly.