Gilthead sea bream is one of the most important Mediterranean aquaculture species alongside sea bass. Welfare improvements in sea bream production are gaining momentum from science and regulation.
Sea bream welfare mirrors many issues faced by sea bass given their shared production environment and market. Aggression between sea bream, particularly during feeding competition, causes fin damage and injury that increases with stocking density. Disease management including sea lice control involves handling stress in treatment procedures. Water quality management in sea cage systems is challenging in the variable Mediterranean climate, affecting welfare through oxygen fluctuations and temperature extremes. At slaughter, the welfare problems of CO2 narcosis and live chilling parallel those for sea bass — prolonged consciousness during killing causes distress. The EFSA scientific opinion provides a regulatory framework that the EU is increasingly operationalizing through producer requirements. Northern European retailer demands for welfare certification are driving Mediterranean producers to adopt electrical stunning systems and improve handling practices throughout production.