Welfare status of cage farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): A comparison between submerged and surface cages

Abstract Submersible sea-cages represent an alternative method to standard surface-based cages, and could help solve several production problems that exist in surface-based farming, such as heavy storms, algal and jellyfish blooms and attacks by predators. In this study, we investigated growth, haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters of European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) farmed in surface and submersible cages, to compare the physiological status under different rearing conditions. In addition, we evaluated the use of erythrocyte HSP70 levels as a biomarker of fish welfare. The study was conducted in two submerged and two surface cages filled with D. labrax . No sig…