Rainbow trout is one of the most widely farmed fish globally. Practical welfare improvements in trout farming are achievable and represent a significant opportunity to reduce suffering at scale.
Trout welfare is an area where practical, cost-effective improvements are available and increasingly demanded by responsible retailers and consumers. The welfare science is clear on what trout need: good water quality, appropriate stocking density, pre-slaughter stunning, and management that minimizes chronic stress. The gap between current average practice and these standards is real but closeable. Certification schemes with meaningful trout welfare requirements already exist and are growing. The welfare gains achievable through wider adoption of these standards across the industry would reduce suffering for billions of fish annually.