Electrical stunning before slaughter represents the most significant welfare improvement available for farmed sea bass and is increasingly adopted by progressive producers.
Transitioning from ice slurry to electrical pre-slaughter stunning is one of the most achievable high-impact welfare improvements available in Mediterranean aquaculture. The technology exists, parameters have been validated for sea bass, and the cost is manageable. The primary barrier is willingness of the industry to invest in equipment and change established practices. Consumer demand for humanely slaughtered fish through certification requirements and retailer sourcing policies provides the economic incentive needed to drive adoption at scale.