More information

European seabass

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
Welzijn
Informatie over vissoort
Lees meer
General

Perchids

Perchids (Perciformes)  is by far the largest family of fishes and comprise more than 41% of all vertebrate fish. Perchids occur in either fresh and saltwater areas all over the world. Well-known perchids are seabass, dorado, mahi-mahi and weever.

European seabass

European seabass occurs in the north-east Atlantic Ocean, from the north of Scandinavia up to Morocco and Senegal. Because of climate change, the distribution range of the European seabass is moving northwards. European seabass can reach a size of 1 m and weigh 12 kg. The maximum recorded age is 15 years. European seabass is a carnivorous fish that mostly consumes other small fish. Seabasss can be wildcaught or cultured.

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Origin

Mediterranean Sea (FAO 37)

Farming- / Catch method

Cages (aquaculture)

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Explanation assessment

ASCASC:
Aquaculture Stewardship Council, a worldwide eco-label for responsible cultivated fish.
-certified sea bass is widely farmed in the Mediterranean, especially in Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey. Farming takes place in open cages. This ASC-certification mainly promotes the use of sustainable feed during the farming process. ASC-certified sea bass is farmed in cagesCages:
A cultivation technique with open cages in the sea, lake or river. They are anchored to the bottom and are standing in places sheltered for storm and high waves. Most salmon is grown in this type of culture system. Because the cages are in open connection with the surrounding water, the impact on the environment is high.
.

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Origin

Mediterranean Sea (FAO 37)

Farming- / Catch method

Cages (aquaculture)

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Source usage
Impact on the environment
Management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Seabass is a fish with high dietary requirements and FFDRFFDR:
The Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) quantifies the environmental impact of aquaculture feed based on the inclusion level of forage fish marine ingredients.  
, indicating that the feed contains relatively large proportions of fish mealfish meal:
Fishmeal is, together with fishoil, a very important ingredient used in fishfeed for aquaculture production. Fishmeal is derived from wild-caught fish which are often not caught sustainably.
and fish oilfish oil:
Fishoil is, together with fishmeal, a very important ingredient used in fishfeed for aquaculture production. Fishoil is derived from wild-caught fish which are often not caught sustainably.
. GlobalGAPGlobalGAP:
GLOBALG.A.P. (Global Good Agriculture Practice) is a non-profit organisation that aims to ensure the traceability and food safety of farmed fish products. GLOBALG.A.P. also manages a certification programme for the production of fish feed and fish meal.
certification ensures that all feed producers are certified, improving traceability of feed sources.

Farming in cagesCages:
A cultivation technique with open cages in the sea, lake or river. They are anchored to the bottom and are standing in places sheltered for storm and high waves. Most salmon is grown in this type of culture system. Because the cages are in open connection with the surrounding water, the impact on the environment is high.
mainly takes place at sea. This type of farming can have a major impact on the ecosystem through waste products being directly discharged into the surrounding environment. In addition, escapesEscapes:
It may happen that farmed animals escape during the farming process, for example when farming at sea or in rivers. This can lead to genetic mixing between the farmed animals and wild populations and can have negative effects on the growth and fertility of wild animals.
are also known to occur regularly. Both genetic mixing of farmed fish with wild fish and transmission of diseases can have a major impact on the ecosystem.

The legal framework for aquaculture in Europe is strong and most environmental and social issues are addressed. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is largely effective.

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Scottish seining/flyshoot

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
of European sea bass is currently recovering from high fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
between 2000 – 2013. Due to limited information on this stock, there is currently a lot of uncertainty about its status.

ScottishScottish seines:
A fishing technique whereby a net with a long line (the seagulls) is pulled through the water on both sides. The ship is slowly steaming forward when getting in. Also called flyshooting
seines, or flyshoot, are likely to impact other species, including endangered and protectedProtected species:
Many marine species are protected from deliberate or intentional disturbance, capture, injury and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. Species are often protected if they play an important role in the ecosystem or are sensitive to fishing. These marine species are protected regardless of whether they are inside or outside marine protected areas.
species. However, research shows that bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
of sharks and rays is less common than previously thought. Because this fishery largely targets data-poorData-poor:
Fish species for which no scientific information is yet available. Due to lack of information, these species are often not managed by EU catch advice.
species, the impact of this fishery on other fish species in the ecosystem is still relatively unknown.

Sea bass are well monitored but are not covered by EU catch limitsCatch limits:
The maximum amount of fish of a species caught per country, per year. 
. There are country-specific management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
, such as a minimum catch length. The managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is partially effective.

This assessment was made under the Knowledge Project VISwijzer and Flyshoot Fish, with the objective of gathering more information on data-poor fish species such as tub gurnard.

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Origin

Mediterranean Sea (FAO 37)

Farming- / Catch method

Cages (aquaculture)

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Source usage
Impact on the environment
Management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Seabass is a fish with high dietary requirements and FFDRFFDR:
The Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) quantifies the environmental impact of aquaculture feed based on the inclusion level of forage fish marine ingredients.  
, indicating that the feed contains relatively large proportions of fish mealfish meal:
Fishmeal is, together with fishoil, a very important ingredient used in fishfeed for aquaculture production. Fishmeal is derived from wild-caught fish which are often not caught sustainably.
and fish oilfish oil:
Fishoil is, together with fishmeal, a very important ingredient used in fishfeed for aquaculture production. Fishoil is derived from wild-caught fish which are often not caught sustainably.
. Although some feed producers seem to be certified, transparency and traceability of feed origin is generally lacking.

Farming in cagesCages:
A cultivation technique with open cages in the sea, lake or river. They are anchored to the bottom and are standing in places sheltered for storm and high waves. Most salmon is grown in this type of culture system. Because the cages are in open connection with the surrounding water, the impact on the environment is high.
mainly takes place at sea. This type of farming can have a major impact on the ecosystem through waste products being directly discharged into the surrounding environment. In addition, escapesEscapes:
It may happen that farmed animals escape during the farming process, for example when farming at sea or in rivers. This can lead to genetic mixing between the farmed animals and wild populations and can have negative effects on the growth and fertility of wild animals.
are also known to occur regularly. Both genetic mixing of farmed fish with wild fish and transmission of diseases can have a major impact on the ecosystem.

The legal framework for aquaculture in Europe is strong and most environmental and social issues are addressed. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is largely effective.

Want to know more about the sustainability issues surrounding seabass? Check out our FAQ.

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Gillnets, Bottom trawls, Anchored gillnets

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
of European sea bass is currently recovering from high fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
between 2000 – 2013. Due to limited information on this stock, there is currently a lot of uncertainty about its status.

Anchoredanchored gillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish become tangled up in a net with their gills (also known as a gillnet), which is vertically standing on the bottom.
gillnets and bottomBottom trawls:
A fishing technique in which cone-shaped nets terminating in a codend are dragged through the water column or along the bottom.
trawls are likely to cause significant negative impacts on the ecosystem by coming into contact with the seabed. BycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
of other species, including endangered and protectedProtected species:
Many marine species are protected from deliberate or intentional disturbance, capture, injury and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. Species are often protected if they play an important role in the ecosystem or are sensitive to fishing. These marine species are protected regardless of whether they are inside or outside marine protected areas.
species, is likely and often documented in these fisheries; mainly in fisheries using gillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets.
.

Sea bass are well monitored but are not covered by EU catch limitsCatch limits:
The maximum amount of fish of a species caught per country, per year. 
. There are country-specific management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
, such as a minimum catch length. The managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is partially effective.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.