Welfare considerations for European sea bass farmed in Mediterranean aquaculture and how certification is improving production standards.
Mediterranean sea bass aquaculture has expanded rapidly to meet demand for this prized culinary fish, and welfare standards have not kept pace with production growth. Sea bass are active, territorial fish whose welfare needs are poorly met by the stocking densities common in commercial cage culture. Fin damage from aggression at high density is visible evidence of ongoing welfare compromise that both certification bodies and consumers can evaluate when making sourcing decisions. The ASC certification scheme offers meaningful welfare improvements for sea bass when applied, but market uptake of certified sea bass remains limited, reflecting a gap between consumer willingness to pay welfare premiums and the actual certification rate in this important aquaculture sector.