Common carp are among the most farmed fish globally, particularly in Asia and Eastern Europe. Their welfare in aquaculture has received little attention relative to salmonids, despite massive production volumes.
Carp welfare in aquaculture is largely invisible in welfare science compared to the attention given to salmon and trout. Yet carp production volume dwarfs that of salmonids globally. Carp show stress responses to handling and crowding similar to other teleost fish, and their ability to tolerate hypoxic water does not mean they are indifferent to these conditions. Behavioural responses to pain stimuli in carp suggest they have nociceptive capacity comparable to other fish. The most urgent welfare improvement for carp would be the adoption of pre-slaughter stunning, which is technically feasible but rarely implemented in commercial pond aquaculture.