Compassion in World Farming has published its first-ever Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard, putting a spotlight on welfare policies and transparency across a sector where public commitments have historically been limited.
Released on 10 February 2026, the scorecard assesses the publicly available welfare policies and reporting of 13 major producers, together accounting for around 36% of global seabass and seabream production. Companies assessed operate across six countries, reflecting the international nature of Mediterranean aquaculture.
The scorecard benchmarks producers against 11 key welfare criteria, establishing a baseline at a time when fish welfare expectations from regulators, retailers and consumers are increasing. Compassion said the initiative is designed to improve transparency, encourage accountability and drive measurable welfare improvements over time.
The new benchmark follows the organisation’s Salmon Welfare Scorecard, first published in 2023, which Compassion says has already helped stimulate greater disclosure and engagement from the salmon farming industry.
“More than half of the seafood consumed today is farmed, making aquaculture the fastest-growing food sector worldwide,” said Dr Daniel Sanchez, Senior Research Manager for Fish Welfare at Compassion in World Farming. “With this rapid expansion comes a responsibility to implement and uphold policies and practices that ensure good welfare.”
Both scorecards evaluate welfare by assessing public policies and reporting, rather than on-farm audits. Each parameter is scored independently and presented on a five-tier scale, offering a visual snapshot of welfare standards that can be tracked over time. Criteria for seabass and seabream include stocking density, genetics and humane slaughter, while the salmon scorecard covers 13 parameters.
The 2025 Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard assesses Abalioglu, Avramar, Cooke, Cromaris, Galaxidi, Gloria Maris, Gruppo del Pesce, Gumusdoga, Kefalonia, Kiliç, Philosofish, Sursan and Waterhouse.
Among the key findings, stocking density emerged as a weak point. Only four producers scored above Tier 1. Three companies — Abalioglu, Avramar and Kefalonia — reached Tier 4 by setting a maximum stocking density of 15kg per cubic metre, which Compassion identifies as its recommended limit for seabass and seabream welfare. However, most producers do not disclose actual densities used in production, making it difficult to verify compliance.
Humane slaughter was the strongest-performing category. Most producers achieved Tier 3 or higher, with Sursan the only company to reach Tier 5. Compassion said this reflects growing industry focus on slaughter methods, alongside ongoing debate about alternatives to ice slurry.
Transparency around genetics was identified as the weakest area. Only one producer, Kefalonia, scored above Tier 1, and only reached Tier 2. Compassion said limited reporting on breeding programmes and selected traits raises concerns about the welfare implications of genetic choices that have not been fully assessed.
Compassion said it will provide tailored feedback to each producer, with practical recommendations to strengthen welfare policies and improve reporting. The organisation argues that clear benchmarks can also help retailers and buyers identify suppliers whose practices align with their own welfare commitments.
Beyond awareness-raising, Compassion believes the scorecards can help unlock investment in higher-welfare practices by providing a credible framework for measuring progress and recognising responsible policies.
The next Salmon Welfare Scorecard is scheduled for publication in late 2026, followed by an updated Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard in late 2027. Compassion said the timeline is intended to give producers time to respond to the findings and implement changes, while ensuring the benchmarks remain relevant and ambitious as welfare standards evolve.
