European sea bass is widely farmed in Mediterranean sea cages with welfare challenges that are increasingly subject to scientific study and regulatory attention.
Sea bass welfare presents species-specific challenges including high aggression in captivity, which causes fin damage, feeding competition, and chronic social stress for subordinate individuals. Dominance hierarchies in crowded conditions mean some individuals consistently experience social defeat, with associated physiological stress and reduced growth. Sea bass are sensitive to handling and temperature change, making farm operations including grading and transfer particularly welfare-costly. Welfare-conscious producers manage aggression through size grading and stocking density management. Like other Mediterranean species, sea bass farming welfare is less regulated and studied than salmon, representing an important gap in welfare governance.