Striped bass and hybrid striped bass are farmed in pond and RAS systems across the USA, with welfare challenges from crowding aggression, oxygen management, and warm-water summer stress.
Striped bass welfare in pond culture is challenged by warm-water oxygen dynamics and aggression. Summer pond temperatures cause oxygen depletion, particularly at night, that can kill fish rapidly. Cannibalism in juveniles causes welfare harm and production losses. Emergency aeration systems are welfare-essential in summer pond culture. The species active swimming behaviour and natural schooling instincts are partially expressed in pond systems but constrained in intensive RAS. Size grading reduces cannibalism but involves handling stress. Water quality monitoring and emergency response capacity are the most critical welfare infrastructure investments for striped bass producers.