Atlantic halibut are increasingly farmed in Norway and other cold-water regions, with welfare challenges centered on stocking density, handling stress, and humane slaughter.
Halibut aquaculture is a growing but welfare-underresearched sector. The species presents unique challenges: halibut are bottom-dwellers that require tank designs providing adequate floor space relative to body size, yet commercial facilities often optimize for volume efficiency rather than behavioral needs. Halibut are more sensitive to handling stress than salmonids, showing prolonged cortisol elevation after routine procedures. The long grow-out period means fish experience potentially poor conditions for multiple years. Pre-slaughter stunning using electrical methods is technically feasible and eliminates the prolonged consciousness associated with live chilling and asphyxia. Welfare certification schemes are beginning to address flatfish species but halibut-specific guidance remains limited.