Sea bass and sea bream are the dominant farmed marine fish in Mediterranean aquaculture. Welfare conditions in cage and intensive systems vary significantly with meaningful welfare consequences.
Sea bass and sea bream welfare is improving in research attention but lags behind salmon in practical welfare standards. The Mediterranean aquaculture industry - centred in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Italy - produces at large scale with limited welfare oversight compared to Norwegian salmon farming. Starvation before harvest (up to 10 days) and ice slurry killing without pre-stunning are welfare concerns that have established solutions - shorter fasting periods and percussive or electrical stunning - but inconsistent adoption. Consumer awareness of Mediterranean farmed fish welfare is very low, and certification options are limited compared to salmon. Welfare-conscious seafood choices for sea bass and bream are difficult to verify.