The gilthead seabream is a highly valued culinary species. Combined with the relatively low cost of feeding, high survival rates, and strong market demand, it is considered highly suitable for large-scale aquaculture production.

Broodstock are obtained either from existing farms or captured from the wild and maintained in hatcheries. A broodstock unit typically consists of breeders of different ages, ranging from one-year-old males to five-year-old females. At the beginning of the breeding season, selected breeders are transferred from long-term holding facilities to spawning tanks. The control of sex ratio within these tanks is a critical factor in gilthead seabream reproduction, as sex reversal is socially influenced. Spawning can also be induced outside the natural season through the manipulation of environmental conditions such as temperature and photoperiod.

Two main systems are used for larval rearing: small-scale and large-scale. The small-scale system allows for maximum control of environmental parameters and generally produces a higher number of juveniles. In contrast, the large-scale system more closely mimics natural conditions, resulting in fewer but often higher-quality larvae.

Gilthead seabream can be farmed using various methods, including coastal ponds and lagoons, land-based systems, and offshore sea cages. Around the Maltese coast, sea cages are commonly used. The early rearing and pre-fattening stages usually take place in land-based facilities, while the grow-out phase occurs in sea cages. During this stage, juveniles are fed either manually or via automatic feeders at regular intervals, often every two hours. They remain in these cages for approximately one to one and a half years until they reach market size.

Prior to harvesting, the fish undergo a period of starvation, the duration of which depends on water temperature and feeding rates. Once adequately starved, the seabream are removed from the cages using vacuum pumps or dip nets. They are typically slaughtered by thermal shock, achieved by immersion in ice-cold water saturated with carbon dioxide, a method used to minimise stress and suffering.