European sea bass aquaculture is a major Mediterranean industry with distinctive welfare challenges related to handling, stocking density, and slaughter methods.
Sea bass aquaculture welfare reflects the broader challenge of applying welfare science to fish species that have received less research attention than salmon. The territorial, aggressive nature of sea bass makes stocking density management particularly important - high density causes not just general stress but active harm through inter-fish aggression. Slaughter method is a significant welfare concern, with the asphyxiation methods most commonly used taking extended periods to cause death. Applying welfare improvements developed for salmon to sea bass requires species-specific adaptation given their different behavioral ecology.