European sea bass is a major Mediterranean aquaculture species. Welfare research has advanced standards for stocking density, handling, and slaughter for this increasingly important species.
Sea bass welfare has received increasing research attention as the species commercial importance has grown. Like sea bream, sea bass demonstrate clear stress responses that justify welfare consideration analogous to that given to salmonid species. Stocking density management is the primary operational welfare factor — fish at high densities show increased aggressive interactions, fin damage, reduced feed intake, and chronic stress hormone elevation. Parasite management interventions impose additional welfare costs that can be reduced through prevention and early detection. Pre-slaughter welfare is an important area for improvement — CO2 stunning, which causes distress, remains in use despite the availability of electrical stunning as a more humane alternative. Consumer and retailer demand for welfare-certified Mediterranean fish species is a growing driver of industry improvement.