Carp are the world's most farmed fish species by volume, yet receive almost no welfare attention despite strong evidence of pain perception and significant welfare problems in intensive production.
Carp receive almost no formal welfare protection anywhere in the world, despite being sentient fish with a well-evidenced capacity for pain. The sheer scale of carp production — billions of animals annually — means even modest welfare improvements could have enormous impact. The primary welfare challenges are overcrowding, poor water quality, disease pressure, and inhumane slaughter. Most farmed carp are killed by suffocation in air or on ice, a process that takes many minutes and involves significant distress. Simple interventions — lower stocking densities, improved pond aeration, percussion stunning before slaughter — could substantially reduce suffering with relatively low cost.