Common carp are the most numerically significant farmed fish species globally, primarily produced in Asia. Despite their scale, carp welfare research remains limited and welfare standards are less developed than for salmonids.
Carp welfare challenges are substantially shaped by the diversity of farming systems. Extensive pond systems in China with low stocking density have relatively good welfare conditions during growing seasons but involve winter semi-starvation when temperatures drop. Intensive recirculating systems produce year-round but require careful management of water quality parameters. The live fish trade — a major distribution channel in Asia — subjects carp to prolonged crowding and transport stress that is poorly regulated. Slaughter practices across much of Asia involve minimal stunning and slow death by suffocation or ice immersion. The scale of carp production means that even modest welfare improvements per animal would have enormous aggregate impact given the billions of individuals involved.