European sea bass is one of the most commercially important farmed fish in the Mediterranean. Its welfare in intensive cage systems and during slaughter has been the subject of growing research attention.
Sea bass welfare in cage aquaculture involves parasites causing skin irritation and tissue damage, crowding-related aggression and fin damage, and the significant welfare problem of ice slurry stunning — which causes prolonged stress and delayed loss of consciousness before death by chilling. Research has demonstrated that sea bass show clear stress responses and nociceptive behaviour. Better slaughter methods — including electrical stunning — are available but not yet widely adopted. Consumer and retailer pressure can drive adoption.