Gilthead seabream is one of the most farmed fish species in the Mediterranean, with welfare challenges including sea lice infestation, crowding and slaughter practices.
Gilthead seabream in dense sea cages experience chronic crowding stress, competition for feed and elevated parasite burden including sea lice. Handling during grading, vaccination and harvest causes acute stress responses. Slaughter without prior stunning causes prolonged death by asphyxiation in air or ice slurry. Improving stocking density limits, implementing electrical stunning and reducing unnecessary handling frequency are the highest-impact welfare interventions.