Catfish farming is a major industry in the American South, with welfare concerns including water quality, handling, and slaughter practices.
Farmed catfish in poorly managed ponds suffer from oxygen depletion, ammonia toxicity, and disease pressure. Handling for grading and transport causes acute stress. Stocking densities in production ponds can cause chronic stress and aggression. Slaughter methods in catfish processing are generally not designed with welfare in mind. As fish with demonstrated pain responses, their welfare deserves more attention than current industry standards provide.