Today (10 Feb), we’re proud to release our first-ever Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard, evaluating the welfare policies and public reporting of 13 major producers that together represent around 36% of global production.

An important baseline for the sea bass and sea bream sector

The scorecard measures producers against 11 welfare criteria, including stocking density, genetics and humane slaughter, and establishes a much-needed baseline for a sector where public commitments have historically been limited.

This latest scorecard for sea bass and sea bream builds on the success of our Salmon Welfare Scorecard, introduced in 2023, which has already driven greater industry greater transparency and industry-wide engagement.

Dr Daniel Sanchez, Senior Research Manager, Fish Welfare at Compassion explains why both scorecards have been launched: “More than half of the seafood consumed today is farmed, making aquaculture the fastest growing food sector worldwide. With this rapid expansion comes a responsibility to implement and uphold policies and practices that ensure good welfare. We work with the food industry to identify welfare issues and encourage producers to adopt higher welfare practices and more sustainable solutions.”

Key findings from the Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard

Among the key findings, only four producers scored above the lowest tier on stocking density, with Abalioglu, Avramar and Kefalonia meeting Compassion’s recommended maximum of 15kg/m³. Humane slaughter emerged as the strongest-performing area, with most companies reaching Tier 3 or higher, though only Sursan achieved the top tier. Genetics reporting remained the weakest category, with just one producer—Kefalonia—scoring above Tier 1.

The scorecard provides a clear framework for producers to improve welfare practices and helps retailers identify responsible suppliers. Updated scorecards for salmon and for sea bass and sea bream are scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027 respectively, giving producers time to respond to the findings and strengthen their policies.

New Scorecard Rates Global Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Standards