Striped bass and hybrid striped bass are important US aquaculture species with welfare considerations relevant to intensive tank and pond production systems.
Welfare concerns include crowding stress in intensive recirculating tank systems, aggressive interactions during grading, sensitivity to temperature changes and dissolved oxygen fluctuations, and handling injuries during routine management. Hybrid striped bass are particularly sensitive to overhandling and show high cortisol stress responses. Development of welfare-specific standards for this species is at an early stage.