Greater amberjack is an emerging Mediterranean aquaculture species with significant welfare challenges related to aggression, handling stress, and disease.
Greater amberjack welfare in aquaculture is significantly challenged by the species active and aggressive nature. Conspecific aggression causes wounding, stress, and mortality in poorly managed groups. Their strong swimming behaviour and large natural home ranges are difficult to accommodate in farm systems, raising concerns about chronic frustration of natural movement patterns. Handling for grading, treatment, or transport causes intense stress responses. Developing appropriate husbandry protocols including optimal stocking density, grading by size, and environmental enrichment is essential for welfare-positive amberjack aquaculture.