Barramundi is increasingly farmed in recirculating systems in the US, Australia, and Southeast Asia, with welfare challenges from its aggressive territorial nature and warm-water requirements.
Barramundi welfare in recirculating aquaculture systems benefits from the controlled environment that RAS provides — stable temperature, oxygen, and water quality — but density management is critical given their territorial aggression. Regular size-grading reduces dominance-related feeding suppression. Pre-slaughter percussion stunning provides rapid insensibilization and is increasingly standard in Australian premium barramundi operations. US RAS-farmed barramundi represents a relatively high-welfare option due to domestic production standards.