Humane slaughter of European sea bass requires species-specific assessment of stunning methods and killing protocols to minimise pre-mortem suffering.
Sea bass experience clear distress during CO2 immersion, with visible avoidance behaviour and physiological stress responses before unconsciousness. Asphyxiation in air causes prolonged dying. These common commercial slaughter methods cause preventable suffering measurable by scientific welfare indicators. Percussive stunning renders fish unconscious immediately, eliminating pre-slaughter pain. Welfare reform in sea bass slaughter is technically feasible and represents one of the highest-impact per-fish welfare improvements available in Mediterranean aquaculture.