Carp are the most farmed fish globally, and their welfare in aquaculture and recreational angling has received insufficient attention given their cognitive capacity.
Carp are among the most widely farmed and recreationally fished species, yet their welfare receives minimal attention. Research demonstrates carp have significant cognitive abilities including long-term learning and pain responses consistent with sentience. In aquaculture, they are often kept at high densities causing chronic stress. Hook injuries from angling, even in catch-and-release fishing, cause pain and immune suppression. The scale of carp farming means welfare improvements could benefit billions of fish.