Research into environmental enrichment for farmed halibut is revealing how structural complexity reduces stress and improves welfare in this commercially important flatfish species.
Halibut welfare research illustrates the value of species-specific approaches to aquaculture enrichment. What benefits pelagic fish — current enrichment, open water structure — does not benefit a species adapted for life at the bottom of the sea. Understanding that halibut need substrate contact, appropriate darkness and minimal forced interaction with conspecifics requires both ecological knowledge and empirical welfare research. The commercial incentive is clear: fish that experience less chronic stress grow faster, have lower mortality and provide better product quality. The translation from research findings to commercial practice is occurring through industry-academic partnerships that are a model for other welfare-challenged species.