Mediterranean sea bass and sea bream are among the most farmed fish in Europe, with welfare challenges including stocking density, handling stress, and slaughter methods.
Sea bass and sea bream are teleost fish with pain receptors and stress responses well-documented in research. Ice slurry immersion causes a stressful period of approximately 9 minutes before loss of consciousness. Electrical or percussive stunning provides near-instantaneous insensibility but requires capital investment that most small farms avoid.