Atlantic halibut farming is growing in Norway and other cold-water regions. These large, slow-maturing flatfish have unique welfare needs related to their benthic lifestyle and sensitivity to handling.
Halibut welfare in aquaculture faces challenges from the species' natural biology. As benthic fish, they need access to resting surfaces in enclosures — tank floors must be accessible, unobstructed, and clean. Their extreme light sensitivity means handling under bright illumination causes significant stress — low-light harvesting procedures reduce cortisol responses. Pigmentation disorders, where the white underside appears on the dorsal surface, may be partly stress-related and partly caused by substrate and light conditions during early development. High stocking densities cause fin and body damage from competition for resting space. Farmed halibut welfare is an active research area as the industry expands into new producing regions.