European seabass is a major Mediterranean aquaculture species where welfare science is identifying key improvement opportunities across the production cycle.
European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) aquaculture is concentrated in Greece, Turkey, and Spain where welfare regulations are less stringent than in Northern European salmonid production. Yet seabass are physiologically capable of suffering — their stress response systems are well-characterised, and aversive stimuli cause measurable physiological, neurological, and behavioural responses consistent with pain and distress. The welfare hotspots in seabass production are vaccination (individual handling of hundreds of thousands of fish), regrouping after size-grading, and slaughter. Electrical stunning followed by spiking (ikejime) represents current best practice at slaughter, producing rapid insensibility and high-quality flesh — demonstrating alignment between welfare and product quality.