Aquaculture

Turbot Welfare in Intensive Aquaculture

Welfare analysis for turbot — a high-value flatfish species farmed in intensive recirculating systems.

Key Facts

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is a premium flatfish farmed mainly in Spain, France, Portugal and China
Intensive turbot culture uses high stocking densities in recirculating aquaculture systems
Turbot are flatfish that rest on the substrate — insufficient tank floor area prevents natural resting behaviour
Aggressive interactions at feeding increase with density — causing fin and eye injuries
Turbot are particularly susceptible to vibriosis and other bacterial infections in intensive systems
Water quality parameters — particularly turbidity and oxygen — significantly affect turbot welfare
Slaughter welfare is variable — percussive stunning followed by gill cutting is the most humane method
Welfare research on turbot is less developed than for salmon but growing

Welfare Significance

Turbot welfare in intensive systems is challenged by high stocking density, competition for substrate space, and disease pressure. As a commercially valuable species, welfare improvements are economically incentivised when they also improve survival and growth rates. Reducing density, improving substrate design, and implementing humane slaughter protocols would substantially benefit farmed turbot.

What You Can Do

Support turbot producers who provide evidence of stocking density controls
Advocate for welfare standards in turbot aquaculture certification schemes
Support research into turbot-specific welfare indicators
Choose farmed turbot from certified operations that include welfare provisions