Gilthead Sea Bream Welfare: The Other Mediterranean Farmed Fish

Gilthead sea bream is farmed alongside sea bass across the Mediterranean and faces identical welfare challenges in intensive cage systems, with additional vulnerabilities to parasites and water temperature.

Key Facts

Gilthead sea bream and European sea bass are the two most farmed fish in the Mediterranean by volume
Turkey alone produces over 100,000 tonnes of sea bream annually in floating sea cages
Sea bream are susceptible to white spot disease (Cryptocaryon) and other parasites in cage systems
Temperature stress in shallow cages causes welfare problems during summer heat events and winter cold spells
Sea bream slaughter by ice slurry causes the same prolonged stress issues as in sea bass production

Welfare Considerations

Gilthead sea bream face the same intensive aquaculture welfare pressures as sea bass: crowding, parasite pressure, temperature extremes in surface cages, and ice slurry slaughter. Research on their nociceptive responses and stress physiology supports their welfare significance. Summer heat in shallow Mediterranean cages causes heat stress and oxygen depletion. The combination of thermal vulnerability and parasitism under climate change is an emerging welfare challenge as Mediterranean sea temperatures rise. Cage depth management and disease monitoring are key welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Choose sea bream from producers certified for responsible aquaculture practices
Support improvements in Mediterranean cage aquaculture that reduce density and improve slaughter methods
Ask your fishmonger or supermarket about the origin and welfare standards of sea bream
Back research into thermal stress management for Mediterranean cage aquaculture under climate change