Juvenile seabream are highly sensitive during early life stages. Hatchery and nursery conditions set the foundation for welfare throughout the grow-out phase.
The first months of life in hatchery and nursery systems are welfare-critical for juvenile seabream. Rapid growth is prioritised commercially, but this can compromise welfare. High density causes chronic stress evidenced by elevated cortisol and impaired immune function. Cannibalism between size-mismatched fish causes injuries and death. The aquaculture industry is developing improved grading methods - including vision-based automated systems - that reduce handling stress while maintaining size uniformity necessary for population welfare.