{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]],"date-time":"2026-08-23T14:51:05Z","timestamp":1787496665801,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,22]],"date-time":"2021-07-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1626912000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The behavioural responses of fish to a stressful situation must be considered an adverse reaction caused by the perception of pain. Consequently, the handling prior to stunning and the immediacy of loss consciousness following stunning are the aspects to take into account during the slaughtering process. The most common commercial stunning method in seabream and seabass is based on hypothermia, but other methods such as electrical stunning, carbon dioxide narcosis or anaesthetic with clove oil, are discussed in relation to the time to reach the unconsciousness stage and some welfare indicators. Although seawater plus ice slurry is currently accepted in some guidelines of fish welfare well practices at slaughter, it cannot be considered completely adequate due to the deferred speed at which cause loss of consciousness. New methods of incorporating some kind of anaesthetic in the stunning tank could be a solution to minimize the impact on the welfare of seabass and seabream at slaughtering.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11082164","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,22]],"date-time":"2021-07-22T22:06:48Z","timestamp":1626991608000},"page":"2164","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["Twenty Years of Research in Seabass and Seabream Welfare during Slaughter"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1375-3362","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ignacio","family":"de la Rosa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, 21004 Huelva, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0395-899X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro L.","family":"Castro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n en Acuicultura-GIA, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214 Telde, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3675-5205","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rafael","family":"Gin\u00e9s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n en Acuicultura-GIA, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214 Telde, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4167","DOI":"10.2527\/1991.69104167x","article-title":"Animal welfare: Concepts and measurement","volume":"69","author":"Broom","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2006.09.001","article-title":"Fish welfare: Current issues in aquaculture","volume":"104","author":"Ashley","year":"2007","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mather, J.A. (2019). Ethics and care: For animals, not just mammals. Animals, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9121018"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1007\/s10806-011-9364-9","article-title":"Fish Cognition and Consciousness","volume":"26","author":"Allen","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Agric. Environ. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2004.02.004","article-title":"Can fish suffer? Perspectives on sentience, pain, fear and stress","volume":"86","author":"Chandroo","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.51291\/2377-7478.1011","article-title":"Why fish do not feel pain","volume":"1","author":"Key","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Sentience"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"967","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.088823","article-title":"Pain in aquatic animals","volume":"218","author":"Sneddon","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Exp. Biol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.51291\/2377-7478.1047","article-title":"Fish lack the brains and the psychology for pain","volume":"1","author":"Derbyshire","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Sentience"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1115","DOI":"10.1098\/rspb.2003.2349","article-title":"Do fishes have nociceptors? Evidence for the evolution of a vertebrate sensory system","volume":"270","author":"Sneddon","year":"2003","journal-title":"Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(03)00113-8","article-title":"The evidence for pain in fish: The use of morphine as an analgesic","volume":"83","author":"Sneddon","year":"2003","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1093\/icesjms\/fsy067","article-title":"Welfare of aquatic animals: Where things are, where they are going, and what it means for research, aquaculture, recreational angling, and commercial fishing","volume":"76","author":"Browman","year":"2019","journal-title":"ICES J. Mar. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.3354\/dao075109","article-title":"Expanding the moral circle: Farmed fish as objects of moral concern","volume":"75","author":"Lund","year":"2007","journal-title":"Dis. Aquat. Organ."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.51291\/2377-7478.1200","article-title":"Animal sentience and the precautionary principle","volume":"2","author":"Birch","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim. Sentience"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s10071-014-0761-0","article-title":"Fish intelligence, sentience and ethics","volume":"18","author":"Brown","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anim. Cogn."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.3354\/dao075139","article-title":"Anthropomorphism and \u2018mental welfare\u2019of fishes","volume":"75","author":"Rose","year":"2007","journal-title":"Dis. Aquat. Organ."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0022-1112.2006.001046.x","article-title":"Current issues in fish welfare","volume":"68","author":"Huntingford","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Fish Biol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1007\/s10806-009-9210-5","article-title":"Ethical issues in aquaculture production","volume":"23","author":"Grigorakis","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Agric. Environ. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"FAO (2021, July 13). Fishery Statistical Collections. Global Aquaculture Production. Available online: http:\/\/www.fao.org\/fishery\/statistics\/global-aquaculture-production\/en."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"529","article-title":"Science-based assessment of welfare: Aquatic animals","volume":"24","author":"Scarfe","year":"2005","journal-title":"Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epizoot."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Underwood, W., and Anthony, R. (2020). AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition, American Veterinary Medical Association."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"903","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2018.06.081","article-title":"The final countdown: Continuous physiological welfare evaluation of farmed fish during common aquaculture practices before and during harvest","volume":"495","author":"Brijs","year":"2018","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.150.10.302","article-title":"Protocol for assessing brain function in fish and the effectiveness of methods used to stun and kill them","volume":"150","author":"Kestin","year":"2002","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Mood, A. (2021, July 21). Worse Things Happen at Sea: The Welfare of Wild Caught Fish. Available online: http:\/\/www.fishcount.org.uk\/published\/standard\/fishcountfullrptSR.pdf."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.4081\/ijas.2009.s1.139","article-title":"Farmed fish welfare-suffering assessment and impact on product quality","volume":"8","author":"Poli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Ital. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Cooke, M. (2001). Ethical considerations for the production of farmed fish\u2014The retailer\u2019s viewpoint. Farmed Fish Quality, Blackwell."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2004.02.003","article-title":"Stress and the welfare of cultured fish","volume":"86","author":"Conte","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Parisi, G., Lupi, P., and Zampacavallo, G. (2001, January 21\u201324). Quality evaluation of European sea bass reared in normoxic or hyperoxic conditions and maintained in normal or high density before slaughter. Proceedings of the ASPA Congress-Recent Progress in Animal Production Science, Piacenza, Italy."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.20506\/rst.33.1.2284","article-title":"Humane harvesting and slaughter of farmed fish","volume":"33","author":"Lines","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. Sci. Tech."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Robb, D.F.H. (2001). The relationship between killing methods and quality. Farmed Fish. Qual., 220\u2013233."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1136\/inpract.23.5.277","article-title":"Welfare of farmed fish at slaughter","volume":"23","author":"Southgate","year":"2001","journal-title":"In Pract."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600024854","article-title":"Methods used to kill fish: Field observations and literature reviewed","volume":"11","author":"Robb","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anim. Welf."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2109.2003.00804.x","article-title":"Is humane slaughter of fish possible for industry?","volume":"34","author":"Kestin","year":"2003","journal-title":"Aquac. Res."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Wall, A.J. (2001). Ethical considerations in the handling and slaughter of farmed fish. Farmed Fish Quality, Blackwell Science."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2585","DOI":"10.1007\/s13197-014-1324-8","article-title":"Evaluation of different methods of stunning\/killing sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by tissue stress\/quality indicators","volume":"52","author":"Zampacavallo","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"(2016). UNE 173300. Piscicultura. Gu\u00eda de pr\u00e1cticas correctas para el sacrificio. AENOR Rev. Norm. Certif., 9, 7\u20138."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Poli, B.M., Scappini, F., Parisi, G., Zampacavallo, G., Mecatti, M., Lupi, P., Mosconi, G., Giorgi, G., and Vigiani, V. (2004, January 12\u201315). Traditional and innovative stunning slaughtering methods for European seabass compared by the complex of the assessed behavioural, plasmatic and tissue stress and quality indexes at death and during shelf life. Proceedings of the 34th WEFTA Conference, L\u00fcbeck, Germany."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Smart, G. (2001). Problems of sea bass and sea bream quality in the Mediterranean. Farmed Fish Quality, Blackwell Science."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"1759","article-title":"Comparison of the effects of six stunning\/killing procedures on flesh quality of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus 1758) and evaluation of clove oil anaesthesia followed by chilling on ice\/water slurry for potential implementation in aquaculture","volume":"45","author":"Simitzis","year":"2014","journal-title":"Aquac. Res."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"616","article-title":"Study on methods to decrease the stress at slaughter in farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)","volume":"2","author":"Zampacavallo","year":"2003","journal-title":"Ital. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1007\/s11259-007-3431-8","article-title":"Influence of slaughtering method on some aspects of quality of gilthead seabream and smoked rainbow trout","volume":"31","author":"Giuffrida","year":"2007","journal-title":"Vet. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1007\/s002170100378","article-title":"Slaughtering of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) in liquid ice: Influence on fish quality","volume":"213","author":"Huidobro","year":"2001","journal-title":"Eur. Food Res. Technol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2019.02.003","article-title":"Nanoencapsulated clove essential oil applied in low dose decreases stress in farmed gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) during slaughter by hypothermia in ice slurry","volume":"504","author":"Cabas","year":"2019","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"71","article-title":"Optimisation of slaughtering method in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Industrial application in fish farms","volume":"51","author":"Urbieta","year":"2000","journal-title":"Cah. Opt. Med."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Ntzimani, A., Angelakopoulos, R., Semenoglou, I., Dermesonlouoglou, E., Tsironi, T., Moutou, K., and Taoukis, P. (2021). Slurry ice as an alternative cooling medium for fish harvesting and transportation: Study of the effect on seabass flesh quality and shelf life. Aquac. Fish."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2006.07.049","article-title":"Pre-slaughter crowding stress and killing procedures affecting quality and welfare in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata)","volume":"263","author":"Bagni","year":"2007","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2008.10.012","article-title":"Comparison of two stunning\/slaughtering methods on stress response and quality indicators of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)","volume":"287","author":"Acerete","year":"2009","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"55","article-title":"Quality in harvesting and post-harvesting procedures\u2014Influence on quality. Fish freshness and quality assessment for sea bass and sea bream","volume":"61","author":"Caggiano","year":"2000","journal-title":"Europe"},{"key":"ref_48","first-page":"1732","article-title":"Effect of electrical stunning at slaughter on the carcass, flesh and eating quality of farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)","volume":"38","author":"Knowles","year":"2007","journal-title":"Aquac. Res."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2109.2007.01860.x","article-title":"Evaluation of electrical stunning of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in seawater and killing by chilling: Welfare aspects, product quality and possibilities for implementation","volume":"39","author":"Lambooij","year":"2008","journal-title":"Aquac. Res."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2608","DOI":"10.1111\/are.14217","article-title":"Stress assessment, quality indicators and shelf life of three aquaculture important marine fish, in relation to harvest practices, water temperature and slaughter method","volume":"50","author":"Papaharisis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Aquac. Res."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2004.07.023","article-title":"Electrical stunning of fish: The relationship between the electric field strength and water conductivity","volume":"241","author":"Lines","year":"2004","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_52","unstructured":"Poli, B.M., Zampacavallo, G., Iurzan, F., De Francesco, M., Parisi, G., and Mosconi, G. (2002, January 16\u201319). Biochemical stress indicators changes in sea bass as influenced by the slaughter method. Proceedings of the Aquaculture Europe 2002: Sea Farming Today and Tomorrow, Trieste, Italy."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.4081\/ijas.2005.2s.606","article-title":"Effect of pre-slaughter conditions in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)","volume":"4","author":"Trocino","year":"2005","journal-title":"Ital. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Poli, B.M., Parisi, G., Zampacavallo, G., Scappini, P., and de Francesco, M. (2003, January 11\u201314). The effect of slaughter methods on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) behaviour, rigor onset, plasmatic and tissue stress indexes and quality. Proceedings of the \u2018\u2018First Joint Trans-Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference (TAFT)\u2019\u2019, 33rd WEFTA Meeting, Reykjavik, Iceland."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2011.02.028","article-title":"Coping strategy and stress response of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax to acute and chronic environmental hypercapnia under hyperoxic conditions","volume":"315","author":"Petochi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"L\u00f3pez-C\u00e1novas, A.E., Cabas, I., Chaves-Pozo, E., Ros-Chumillas, M., Navarro-Segura, L., L\u00f3pez-G\u00f3mez, A., Fernandes, J.M.O., Galindo-Villegas, J., and Garc\u00eda-Ayala, A. (2020). Nanoencapsulated Clove Oil Applied as an Anesthetic at Slaughtering Decreases Stress, Extends the Freshness, and Lengthens Shelf Life of Cultured Fish. Foods, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods9121750"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1007\/s10499-004-9035-1","article-title":"Fish welfare and quality as affected by pre-slaughter and slaughter management","volume":"13","author":"Poli","year":"2005","journal-title":"Aquac. Int."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00217-002-0494-1","article-title":"Quality of farmed gilthead seabream [Sparus aurata] during ice storage related to the slaughter method and gutting","volume":"215","author":"Tejada","year":"2002","journal-title":"Eur. Food Res. Technol."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aquaculture.2010.04.020","article-title":"Effect of harvesting stress and slaughter conditions on selected flesh quality criteria of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)","volume":"305","author":"Matos","year":"2010","journal-title":"Aquaculture"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"651","DOI":"10.1023\/B:VERC.0000014239.47061.2c","article-title":"Influence exerted by certain factors during rearing and before slaughter on post-mortem characteristics of sea bass","volume":"27","author":"Parisi","year":"2003","journal-title":"Vet. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_61","unstructured":"Parisi, G., Mecatti, M., Lupi, P., Scappini, F., and Poli, B.M. (2002, January 16\u201319). Comparison of five slaughter methods for European sea bass. Changes in isometric contraction force and pH during the first 24 hours post mortem. Proceedings of the Aquaculture Europe 2002: Sea Farming Today and Tomorrow, Trieste, Italy."},{"key":"ref_62","unstructured":"Tejada, M., Huidobro, A., and Pastor, A. (2001). Slaughter methods affecting adenosine triphosphate and derivates in chilled stored gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Farmed Fish Quality, Fishing News Books."},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2010.11.017","article-title":"Effect of harvesting stress and storage conditions on protein degradation in fillets of farmed gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata): A differential scanning calorimetry study","volume":"126","author":"Matos","year":"2011","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9443","DOI":"10.1021\/jf301766e","article-title":"Effects of preslaughter stress levels on the post-mortem sarcoplasmic proteomic profile of gilthead seabream muscle","volume":"60","author":"Silva","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/11\/8\/2164\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T06:33:09Z","timestamp":1760164389000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/11\/8\/2164"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,22]]},"references-count":64,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,8]]}},"alternative-id":["ani11082164"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani11082164","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,22]]}}}