Sea bass farming is expanding in Chile and other regions, bringing both economic opportunities and significant questions about fish welfare in net pen systems.
Farmed sea bass face multiple welfare challenges across their production cycle. As active predatory fish, confinement in net pens prevents expression of natural foraging and territorial behaviors, causing chronic stress. Crowding suppresses cortisol regulation, making fish more susceptible to disease outbreaks that cause mass suffering. Handling during grading causes scale loss and internal injury. The slaughter methods used for sea bass are often poorly regulated — live chilling in ice slurry causes prolonged suffering before death. Percussion stunning followed by immediate slaughter is more humane but not universally adopted. The rapid expansion of sea bass farming in new regions like Chile risks exporting poor welfare practices without improved standards.