Turbot and Atlantic halibut are high-value flatfish species being developed for aquaculture, with specific welfare considerations related to their benthic lifestyle and feeding behavior.
Flatfish welfare requires species-specific understanding of their natural ecology. Turbot and halibut spend most of their time resting on substrate, making bottom area more important than water volume. Tank substrate quality, lighting conditions, and feeding stimuli all affect welfare. Halibut are more sensitive than turbot to crowding and handling stress, requiring careful management during grading and transfer. Both species benefit from environmental enrichment that accommodates their natural behavior. As relatively new aquaculture species, welfare knowledge for turbot and halibut is less developed than for salmon and trout, making research investment particularly valuable.