Halibut and other flatfish are increasingly farmed to meet demand as wild stocks decline. Their unique physiology and behaviour create specific welfare considerations in aquaculture systems.
Flatfish welfare in aquaculture requires species-specific consideration of their bottom-dwelling lifestyle and substrate needs. Standard round tanks or net pens designed for pelagic species are poorly suited to flatfish needs. Providing appropriate substrate, managing juvenile cannibalism, and developing species-specific welfare indicators are current research priorities. As halibut aquaculture expands, building welfare standards into industry development from early stages is a key opportunity.