European sea bass is one of the most widely farmed marine fish in the Mediterranean. Welfare challenges include crowding stress, capture methods, and variable slaughter practices across producing countries.
European sea bass, like other farmed fish, are sentient vertebrates whose welfare during farming and slaughter warrants serious consideration. Crowding at harvest without prior stunning causes physiological indicators of acute stress. Death by immersion in ice slurry without stunning is slow — fish may remain conscious for several minutes — and represents a significant welfare problem that has practical alternatives. Consumer preference for certified products and retailer commitments to improved standards are the primary levers for change given the diverse and geographically dispersed nature of Mediterranean sea bass farming.