Channel catfish is the most farmed fish in the USA, produced in open earthen ponds — welfare challenges include disease, crowding, and inhumane slaughter methods at harvest.
Catfish welfare in open pond systems faces chronic and acute challenges. Algal bloom crashes cause mass hypoxia events with fish gasping at the surface — an acutely distressing experience. Disease outbreaks cause systemic illness and death. Harvest crowding and live transport without prior stunning represent acute welfare events. Electrical stunning at the point of slaughter is technically feasible and improving welfare at progressive operations.