European sea bass is a major Mediterranean aquaculture species with welfare challenges including crowding, disease, and handling stress in intensive production systems.
Sea bass welfare shares the challenges of other intensive aquaculture species but has some specific features. These are naturally territorial fish forced into high densities that create chronic aggression and stress. Disease events in intensive systems spread rapidly and require treatment interventions that are themselves stressful. Slaughter welfare varies significantly between operations — some use electrical stunning, others ice slurry or CO2 narcosis. Consumer demand for certified welfare-conscious sea bass and regulatory pressure for improved slaughter standards are the most effective drivers of improvement.