Common carp is the world's most farmed fish species by volume, with welfare considerations increasingly recognised in producing countries.
Carp welfare has historically received limited attention despite the enormous scale of production. Live transport and marketing in crowded conditions causes acute stress, hypoxia and physical injury. Slaughter methods used in many markets cause prolonged death that would not be acceptable for other species of similar size. Growing scientific recognition of fish sentience is beginning to influence welfare standards in European and some Asian markets, but global coverage remains poor.