Farmed Catfish: Welfare in a Major Global Aquaculture Sector

Channel catfish in the US and Pangasius catfish in Southeast Asia are major farmed species, with welfare concerns shaped by their specific physiological tolerances and production system demands.

Key Facts

Channel catfish is the most important farmed fish in the US by volume, concentrated in the Mississippi Delta
Pangasius (tra/basa catfish) is farmed extensively in Vietnam and exported to markets across the world
Catfish are air-breathing and can tolerate low oxygen levels that would kill most fish, but still experience chronic stress in poor conditions
Harvest of catfish typically involves draining ponds and crowding in extreme conditions before live transport
Stunning before slaughter is not widely practiced in catfish production in either the US or Southeast Asia
Pangasius farming has faced environmental and welfare criticism, though conditions vary significantly between producers
US catfish farming is more heavily regulated than Southeast Asian production, though welfare standards are not specifically addressed

Welfare Considerations

Catfish farming occupies a large volume of global aquaculture production with minimal welfare oversight. The resilience of catfish species to poor water quality conditions has been exploited to maintain high stocking densities that would not be feasible for more oxygen-sensitive species, but resilience to adverse conditions does not mean immunity from stress or suffering in those conditions. Harvest and transport conditions for catfish — crowding, air exposure, and live transport over distances — represent the most acute welfare failures in the production system. Pre-slaughter stunning, better harvest protocols, and water quality standards during grow-out would substantially improve welfare for an enormous number of individual animals across this sector.

What You Can Do

Ask retailers about welfare and sustainability certification for catfish products in their supply chains
Support aquaculture welfare advocacy that includes catfish alongside higher-profile species like salmon
Choose catfish from producers certified under welfare-inclusive aquaculture standards where available
Advocate for pre-slaughter stunning requirements to be extended to catfish in aquaculture regulations