Broodstock seabass held in hatcheries for spawning experience a specialised set of welfare challenges including manipulation of photoperiod and temperature to induce spawning and repeated sampling procedures.
Broodstock welfare represents an often-overlooked component of the aquaculture welfare chain. Chronic low-level stress from photoperiod manipulation, repeated handling and captivity in restricted spaces can affect immune function and reproductive performance. Welfare improvements in broodstock management produce downstream benefits for larval quality and survival.