Gilthead seabream

The last assessment in this area for semi-intensive farming was carried out in 2024, for flow-through systems in 2022, and for cages in 2018.

Aquaculture of gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea and Spain is performing moderately. The species is farmed in cages, flow-through systems and semi-intensive ponds. All production methods require feed containing a relatively high proportion of fishmeal and fish oil, although the origin of the raw materials is generally well traceable.

The environmental impacts vary between farming systems. Cages have the greatest impact because waste is discharged directly into the environment and there is a risk of escapes and the spread of diseases and parasites. Flow-through systems perform better in these areas but also discharge waste into the environment. Semi-intensive ponds generally have the lowest impact and can even provide valuable habitat for wildlife, although they may also affect estuaries. The use of antibiotics and other chemical treatments is generally limited, while animal welfare varies between farming systems. Semi-intensive systems are the preferred option and are the only farming method to score green for resource use.

Management is considered largely effective. There are no AIPs available for these farms. Several companies hold independent certifications, such as GlobalG.A.P., BAP or organic certification, but no ASC certification is available for these production systems.

The latest assessment of the fishery using ring nets was in 2017; the latest assessment of handlines and pole-and-lines was in 2023.

The status of stocks of gilthead seabream in the Northeast Atlantic is unclear. No reliable stock assessments are available and fishing pressure cannot be properly determined. Due to its life history, gilthead seabream is moderately vulnerable to overfishing.

Fishing with handlines and pole-and-lines has little bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species, low discards and causes no damage to the seabed. Fishing with ring nets also causes virtually no damage to the seabed and is likely to have low discards, but insufficient data are available on bycatch and impacts on the ecosystem. Handlines and pole-and-lines are therefore the most sustainable choice.

Management is considered partially effective. There is no specific management plan for gilthead seabream, but the fishery falls under the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy and an ecosystem-based approach is under development. No MSC certification is available for these fisheries.

The last assessment of this fishery was carried out in 2016.

It is unclear how the stocks of gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea are doing. No reliable stock assessments are available, and fishing pressure cannot be properly determined. Due to the species’ life history, it is moderately vulnerable to overfishing.

Fishing with handlines and longlines has little bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species, low levels of discards and causes virtually no damage to the ecosystem or the seabed. Fishing with pots is also likely to have little bycatch and a limited impact on the seabed, but fewer data are available and discard levels are expected to be slightly higher. Handlines and longlines are therefore the more sustainable choice.

Management is considered insufficiently effective. There is no specific management plan for gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea, and the lack of data makes it difficult to properly assess the effectiveness of existing measures. There is no MSC certification available for these fisheries.

This assessment only applies to gilthead seabream with ASC(EN) ASC:
Aquaculture Stewardship Council, a worldwide eco-label for responsible cultivated fish. label. Ask your salesman whether the fish has this label.

Gilthead seabream, or dorade, is farmed on a large scale in the Mediterranean, mainly in Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey. They also occur naturally in these areas.

This species 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. at sea. Little independent scientific research is done on the effects of aquaculture on the environment. The ecosystem is indirectly affected via a concentrated waste stream originating from the cages. This fishery also has a well-known problem with escapees. If these escapees mix with fish from wild populations, reproductive successes may decrease. This species is also susceptible for disease, which could then spread considerably fast. Gilthead seabream requires a large amount of feed to grow, but is not yet produced sustainably. GlobalGAP certified seabream is a better choice, mainly because the feed is made of more sustainably caught fish.

Fish in season 

This is an assessment on farmed fish. Therefore season is not relevant.

The last assessment of this fishery using drifting gillnets was carried out in 2018.

The last assessment of this fishery using bottom otter trawls was carried out in 2016.

It is unclear how the stocks of gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea are doing. No reliable stock assessments are available, and fishing pressure cannot be properly determined. The species is vulnerable to overfishing, and in some areas there are indications of high fishing pressure.

Fishing with demersal otter trawls, drifting gillnets and trammel nets has different environmental impacts. Bottom trawls have high levels of bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species, result in substantial discards and cause significant damage to the seabed and vulnerable habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. Anchored gillnets and trammel nets cause less damage to the seabed, but do catch marine mammals, seabirds, sharks and rays as bycatch. Trammel nets in particular can result in high levels of discards. Of these fishing methods, anchored gillnets and trammel nets are a slightly better choice than bottom trawls, but none of the three fishing methods is sustainable.

Management is considered insufficiently effective. There is no specific management for gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea, and the lack of data makes it difficult to properly assess the effectiveness of existing measures. There is no MSC certification available for these fisheries.

Aquaculture of gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean Sea is going poorly. The species is farmed in floating cages and depends on feed containing a relatively high proportion of fishmeal and fish oil. Several farms hold independent sustainability certifications.

Farming results in considerable nutrient emissions into the surrounding water, which can negatively affect water quality and the seabed. Escapes occur regularly, and diseases and parasites can spread to wild fish. Antibiotics and other veterinary medicines are used when necessary, and predators are controlled in some areas. Animal welfare has improved, but appropriate stunning and slaughter methods are not applied everywhere.

Management is considered partly effective. There are no AIPs available for these farms. Several farms are ASC-certified, GlobalG.A.P.-certified or organically certified. These farms comply with stricter standards and therefore receive a yellow rating rather than a red rating.