Turbot Welfare 2025: European Flatfish Aquaculture

A 2025 welfare update for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in European aquaculture, including new welfare standards and species-specific challenges.

Key Facts

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture is concentrated in Spain, France, and China — European production exceeds 10,000 tonnes annually, with growing production in Norway and the UK.
Turbot are benthic (bottom-dwelling) flatfish with specific space requirements — unlike pelagic species, welfare-appropriate stocking density should be calculated per unit floor area, not water volume.
Turbot are highly aggressive at high densities — fin biting and dorsal fin erosion cause both welfare harms and production losses; optimal stocking densities of 40-60 kg/m² floor area are well-established.
Turbot aquaculture relies on tank systems rather than net pens — this allows for better control of water quality, temperature, and feeding but requires careful management of RAS system parameters.
Slaughter welfare for turbot is inadequately standardized — percussive stunning prior to exsanguination is best practice but is not universally implemented in European operations.
ASC turbot certification was finalized in 2023 — take-up is growing but still represents a minority of European production.
The 2025 EFSA Scientific Opinion on turbot welfare identifies: fin erosion, skeletal deformities, and parasitic infection as the three highest-prevalence welfare concerns in European turbot aquaculture.

Welfare Considerations

Turbot welfare is advancing with ASC certification development and EFSA scientific opinion publication, but certified production remains a minority. Pre-slaughter percussive stunning, stocking density management, and fin erosion monitoring are the priority welfare improvements needed across the sector. Choose ASC-certified turbot where available and advocate for EU aquaculture welfare regulations that implement EFSA turbot recommendations.

What You Can Do

Choose ASC-certified turbot where available in European and UK markets
Advocate for EU aquaculture regulations implementing EFSA turbot welfare opinion recommendations
Support Aquatic Life Institute efforts to develop turbot-specific welfare certification criteria
Reduce turbot consumption from non-certified operations where welfare-audited alternatives exist