European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most important Mediterranean farmed fish species, with welfare challenges specific to its intensive culture in sea cages.
Sea bass welfare in Mediterranean cage aquaculture is affected by environmental variability that land-based systems avoid. Storm events can cause severe physical trauma - both from the cage structure and from collisions with other fish in panicked schools. Temperature extremes in enclosed bay systems can push fish beyond thermal tolerance ranges, causing metabolic stress or mortality. The social dominance hierarchies that characterize sea bass mean subordinate individuals in crowded conditions may face chronic stress from dominant tank-mates. Slaughter method is particularly important - suffocation in air or ice is slow and distressing; pre-slaughter electrical stunning followed by rapid killing is the welfare-preferred approach.