Barramundi (Asian sea bass) is a rapidly expanding aquaculture species across Southeast Asia and Australia, with welfare considerations around stocking density, water quality, and slaughter methods.
Barramundi's reputation as a hardy species has led to welfare being underemphasised in production systems. Evidence shows they experience stress, show acute responses to pain, and have behavioural needs related to social structure and environmental complexity. Cannibalism in juveniles at high density causes welfare problems requiring management. As production scales up, developing welfare standards before problems become entrenched is the responsible approach - the mistake made with salmon aquaculture.