Spotted sea trout and weakfish are being explored as aquaculture candidates in the southern US, with welfare needs specific to their estuarine ecology and schooling behaviour.
Spotted sea trout are naturally schooling estuarine fish with social behaviour potentially compatible with aquaculture. However, welfare in captive systems requires management of temperature extremes and disease pressure under stress. As interest in aquaculture of these species grows, welfare standards should be developed proactively. The stock enhancement focus of existing production provides an opportunity to develop welfare standards before intensive food production scales.