Gilthead sea bream is one of the Mediterranean's most important farmed fish species, and welfare science is revealing significant room for improvement in production practices.
Sea bream welfare research has matured significantly in recent years, providing clear evidence that this species experiences pain and stress. Production practices including high stocking densities, rough handling for grading and treatment, and CO2 slaughter all impose measurable welfare costs. The good news is that improvements are achievable without major economic disruption: electrical stunning, density reductions, and low-stress handling techniques are all technically and commercially viable. EU aquaculture welfare policy development is increasingly incorporating sea bream alongside salmon and trout as priority species for welfare standard development.