Rainbow trout is one of the most farmed salmonid species globally, with welfare challenges including crowding, aggression, disease management, and pre-slaughter handling.
Rainbow trout welfare in aquaculture faces the same fundamental challenges as other farmed fish: stocking density, water quality, disease management, and slaughter welfare. Trout are sensitive to handling stress and show strong physiological responses to crowding and water quality deterioration. Research has demonstrated that providing structural enrichment, managing stocking density, and using appropriate pre-slaughter stunning methods significantly improve welfare outcomes. As one of the most extensively studied farmed fish species, rainbow trout welfare science provides a model for developing standards for other aquaculture species.