Abstract: The economic performance of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, aquaculture in Mediterranean countries is not homogeneous despite the availability of a universalized technology and the absence of trade barriers. Differences in competitiveness among aquaculture facilities result, in part, from economic and environmental factors, which are conditioned by the geographical location of the facility. This article aims to identify and analyze the competitive advantages derived from the different environmental conditions in which seabream production has been developed along the Mediterranean Sea. A particle swarm optimization algorithm based on a seabream bioeconomic model was applied to the economic optimization of multibatch aquaculture production. The analysis involved hypothetical fattening farms located in the major areas in which this species is cultured. The water temperature was the only parameter that varied among locations. The average water temperatures in these locations were below the optimum growth temperature, around which growth progressively diminishes. The results of the study showed that the locations with higher average water temperatures and less variable water temperatures allowed the cultivation process to be more economically efficient. The seabream farms located in Greece and Turkey had a competitive advantage in terms of productivity and operating profitability because of more favorable environmental conditions.

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