Disease management is one of the central welfare challenges in sea bass farming, with viral and bacterial outbreaks causing mass mortality and significant suffering in affected fish.
Disease events represent acute welfare crises in sea bass aquaculture. During VNN outbreaks, affected fish experience neurological damage causing loss of buoyancy control and disorientation - conditions likely associated with significant distress. Mass mortality events, while reducing the number of suffering individuals, represent a welfare failure in the lead-up as moribund fish experience deteriorating condition. Prevention through vaccination and biosecurity is the primary welfare strategy. Good water quality management - stable temperature, oxygen, and low ammonia - creates conditions where fish immune function is supported and disease susceptibility reduced. Emergency depopulation plans that include pre-slaughter stunning reduce suffering when outbreaks occur.