Common carp is one of the world's most widely farmed fish species with diverse production systems across Europe and Asia, and welfare considerations across the production cycle.
Carp welfare varies enormously across production systems. Traditional extensive pond culture at lower densities provides more behavioral expression than intensive RAS, though disease management is more challenging. The Christmas carp tradition in Central European countries involves live sale and home slaughter, with consumers keeping live fish in bathtubs for several days before killing. Home slaughter methods are typically non-stunning, causing prolonged suffering. Welfare advocacy has focused on providing stunning devices at point of sale. Water quality extremes in intensively managed ponds cause hypoxia stress. Grading and transport of live carp causes significant handling stress. Carp welfare standards are less developed than those for salmonids despite the species' global importance.