Atlantic halibut is an emerging aquaculture species with specific welfare challenges around cannibalism, light requirements and slaughter that are receiving increasing research attention.
Halibut aquaculture welfare must be developed proactively as the industry scales. Cannibalism at juvenile stages is a major welfare challenge requiring frequent grading to reduce size variation - a stressful procedure in itself. Disease management, water quality and slaughter welfare require species-specific research. The welfare lessons learned from salmon aquaculture should be applied to halibut development rather than repeated.