Cryogenic vs. Mechanical freezing impact on the quality of the sea bass during long-term storage

•Investigated the long-term preservation of fish through cryogenic vs. mechanical freezing.•Found no significant difference in exudate loss between cryogenic and mechanical freezing.•Colour and texture are mainly affected by storage time, not the freezing method.•Cryogenic freezing initially reduces lipid oxidation by 11%.•Cryogenic freezing maintains better tissue integrity with smaller ice crystals.