Understanding rainbow trout natural behaviour informs welfare-positive management in both aquaculture and wild fisheries contexts.
Rainbow trout welfare in aquaculture is improved when management acknowledges their natural behavioural repertoire. Wild trout seek cover, vary their use of water column and velocity, and maintain territories. Intensive farming systems that ignore these needs create chronic stress and welfare problems. Providing environmental complexity, appropriate densities, and cover opportunities improves trout welfare in production settings.