Rainbow trout are among the most widely farmed fish globally, yet welfare science for the species lags behind salmon, leaving significant knowledge gaps.
Rainbow trout have been farmed for well over a century, yet the welfare science base for the species is considerably less developed than for Atlantic salmon. They are sentient fish capable of experiencing pain and stress, and evidence suggests that many standard farming practices cause significant welfare compromise. Crowding stress during grading and harvest, inadequate water quality in intensive systems, and inhumane slaughter methods are key concerns. The industry has been slower to adopt welfare benchmarks compared to salmon farming. Growing scientific consensus on fish sentience should drive investment in species-specific welfare research and industry standards for trout.