Atlantic halibut aquaculture presents unique welfare challenges for a flatfish species adapted to living on the seafloor, with tank design and environmental complexity significantly affecting welfare outcomes.
Halibut aquaculture is expanding as wild populations have been depleted, creating a window to establish welfare standards from the beginning rather than retrofitting them onto established practice. The specific demersal lifestyle of halibut means that standard tank designs optimized for pelagic salmon are inappropriate for their behavioral needs. Providing substrate, shade, and appropriate resting areas addresses fundamental behavioral requirements with relatively simple modifications. Establishing welfare standards for halibut culture now, while the industry is young, is far more achievable than reforming established intensive systems later.