Pacific halibut face welfare challenges from longline capture, deck handling, and bycatch discard practices, with evidence that improved handling reduces physiological stress.
Halibut welfare at capture is primarily determined by air exposure time and killing method. Fish that struggle extensively during capture experience elevated cortisol and lactic acid accumulation that affects both welfare and flesh quality. Rapid killing methods benefit both fish welfare and product quality, creating alignment between welfare goals and commercial interests. The bycatch discard problem remains significant, as halibut caught incidentally in trawl fisheries are rarely landed in marketable condition and suffer during discarding.