Rainbow trout are the most widely farmed salmonid globally and have increasingly well-developed welfare standards that provide a model for other aquaculture species.
Trout aquaculture welfare represents both a success story and a benchmark: the species' use in welfare research has generated evidence that has been translated into certification standards faster than for many other fish species. Electrical stunning, stocking density limits, water quality standards, and enrichment requirements in higher-welfare schemes demonstrate what evidence-based aquaculture welfare looks like. The remaining challenge is extending this welfare investment from certified premium production to the majority of global trout production.