European seabass is a premium Mediterranean aquaculture species whose welfare in intensive production systems is increasingly scrutinised as the sector grows.
European seabass welfare challenges overlap significantly with other Mediterranean cage-farmed species. Handling stress during routine operations causes acute cortisol elevation and sometimes post-handling mortality. Crowding during thinning operations is acutely distressing. Sea lice infestations on cage-reared fish cause physical damage and chronic discomfort. Storm events can damage cage nets causing mass escapes or, in worst cases, mass mortality from oxygen depletion. Slaughter welfare varies widely across the industry. Establishing minimum welfare standards for seabass comparable to those developing in salmon aquaculture is an important priority for Mediterranean aquaculture regulation.