Rainbow trout farming raises specific welfare concerns around stocking density, disease management and handling stress that require evidence-based management standards.
Farmed trout welfare is influenced by stocking density, water quality and handling frequency in ways that are well-characterised by research. Their high stress responsiveness means routine management procedures carry significant welfare costs when performed carelessly. Optimal trout welfare requires maintaining cool, well-oxygenated water, appropriate stocking densities, disease prevention through good husbandry and minimised handling. The relatively well-developed welfare science for trout provides a good basis for evidence-based standards if applied systematically.