European seabass and gilthead sea bream are the dominant Mediterranean aquaculture species, and welfare concerns span crowding, handling, and slaughter practices.
Seabass and sea bream welfare has received less attention than salmon welfare despite comparable scale of production. These fish are sentient, capable of stress responses, and show clear behavioral and physiological signs of suffering when poorly managed. High stocking densities — which reduce production costs — create chronic stress that compromises immune function and promotes injury. The lack of mandatory pre-slaughter stunning in many Mediterranean countries means large numbers of fish experience what may be a prolonged, painful death. As welfare science for these species advances, it becomes increasingly untenable to justify practices that would be unacceptable in terrestrial livestock farming. Market pressure from European retailers committed to higher fish welfare standards is beginning to drive change.