Turbot are increasingly farmed in high-density recirculating systems. Understanding their behavioural and physiological needs is essential for improving welfare standards.
Turbot in crowded tanks suffer from space competition, lateral line damage from water current and physical injury from conspecific interactions. Unlike many round fish species, turbot lie flat and require adequate floor space rather than water column volume. Providing artificial substrate, appropriate flow rates and low stocking densities reduces fin erosion and aggressive interactions. Water quality management in RAS systems is critical as turbot are sensitive to ammonia, CO2 and dissolved oxygen fluctuations.