Sole, particularly common sole (Solea solea), is emerging as an aquaculture species of interest in Europe. Its welfare needs are highly specialized and not yet fully understood, representing both a research gap and an advocacy opportunity.
Sole aquaculture welfare exemplifies how species-specific needs must drive husbandry design. The nocturnal feeding habit means standard daytime feeding routines create chronic welfare problems through food deprivation during active periods and forced feeding during rest periods. Providing sandy substrate - while adding management complexity - dramatically reduces skin damage and stress. Welfare assessment frameworks developed for salmon are essentially inapplicable to sole without major modification. This species requires dedicated welfare research investment before large-scale commercial production can be considered ethically sound.