Catla is a major component of South Asian carp polyculture systems, produced in enormous quantities with welfare considerations around pond management, harvest practices, and live transport.
Catla welfare in South Asian polyculture faces challenges during harvest and live transport. Mass harvest by seine netting concentrates fish in shrinking water volumes, causing acute oxygen depletion and crowding stress. Long-distance live transport in crowded, poorly oxygenated containers subjects fish to sustained physiological stress and high mortality. Live fish markets hold catla in cramped conditions before sale, with slaughter methods including live cutting and leaving fish to suffocate in air without stunning. The enormous scale of Indian carp production means welfare improvements would have very large aggregate impacts. Growing domestic awareness of fish welfare in India offers potential for improvement.