Aquatic Animal Welfare

Farmed Halibut Welfare and Aquaculture

Atlantic halibut aquaculture is an emerging industry with specific welfare challenges related to cannibalism, light sensitivity and crowding behaviour.

Key Facts

Atlantic halibut are slow-growing flatfish requiring 4-5 years to reach market weight
Juvenile halibut are highly cannibalistic without appropriate size grading management
Halibut are sensitive to light intensity and show stress responses to sudden illumination changes
Disease challenges including Tenacibaculum ulceration affect welfare in sea cage systems
Halibut aquaculture is expanding in Norway as an alternative to wild catch

Welfare Considerations

Halibut aquaculture welfare requires management of species-specific challenges including cannibalism prevention through grading, appropriate lighting management and disease control. Early welfare assessment of this emerging species has informed better husbandry practices before commercial scaling.

What You Can Do

Support certified halibut from welfare-assessed aquaculture operations
Advocate for pre-commercialisation welfare assessment requirements for new aquaculture species
Choose farmed halibut from certified operations with documented welfare monitoring