Examining the distinctive welfare challenges of farming Atlantic and Pacific halibut — large, long-lived flatfish with complex behavioral needs — in aquaculture settings.
Halibut farming occupies a niche in premium aquaculture, but the welfare challenges are substantial and species-specific. As bottom-dwelling fish, halibut have behavioral needs — substrate contact, resting on flat surfaces, reduced light — that standard aquaculture tank design does not accommodate. The long developmental period, sensitivity to stress, and cannibalism risk create management challenges that are typically addressed through handling interventions that themselves cause acute stress. Slaughter practices are a particular welfare concern: live chilling, common in flatfish industries, causes a prolonged and distressing death in fish with high cold tolerance. Welfare improvement requires substrate provision, low-stress handling systems, and adoption of percussive or electrical stunning at slaughter.