European sea bass is a major aquaculture species in the Mediterranean, with welfare concerns related to crowding, repeated handling, and slaughter practices in an industry expanding rapidly to meet demand.
Sea bass in intensive cage culture experience welfare challenges from high stocking densities that restrict natural swimming behaviour, and from repeated handling during the production cycle. Net-crowding for vaccination, grading, and harvest causes acute stress evidenced by elevated cortisol and stereotypic swimming. Slaughter in many facilities involves live chilling in ice slurry without prior stunning, causing a period of conscious distress. Welfare certification in the Mediterranean sea bass sector has advanced, with GLOBALG.A.P. and equivalent schemes increasingly requiring welfare indicators to be monitored.