Meagre, or corvina, is an emerging high-value aquaculture species in the Mediterranean with specific welfare requirements related to its large size, sensitivity to crowding, and acoustic communication behaviour.
Meagre are large, active fish with a natural tendency to form loose schools in open water. Intensive sea cage culture restricts this natural behaviour and acoustic communication. High stocking densities cause chronic stress and reduce feeding efficiency. Meagre acoustic communication, including feeding and spawning calls, suggests a level of social complexity that should inform welfare guidelines. Research into acoustic enrichment and appropriate stocking densities for this species would advance welfare standards in Mediterranean aquaculture.