European sea bass is a major Mediterranean farmed species with welfare challenges related to net pen culture and slaughter practices.
Sea bass welfare in net pen culture is affected by stocking density, social stress and slaughter method. These active predatory fish experience significant constraint in net pens that prevent their natural extensive movement patterns. Ice slurry immersion, widely used for harvest, causes prolonged death during which fish are likely conscious. Transitioning to humane electrical stunning followed by rapid bleeding would represent a major welfare improvement for millions of sea bass each year across Mediterranean aquaculture.