Carp are the most widely farmed fish globally by volume, yet receive minimal welfare attention. Understanding carp welfare needs is essential given their numerical significance.
Carp welfare represents one of the largest numerical animal welfare challenges given production volumes exceeding 50 million tonnes annually. Despite this scale, carp welfare has received almost no attention from welfare scientists, certification bodies, or advocates, creating a significant gap between the welfare impact and the resources devoted to improving it. Carp harvesting through pond draining and mass asphyxiation is one of the least welfare-friendly slaughter methods practised at scale in any food production system. The dominance of carp production in China and other Asian markets where welfare regulation is minimal makes international consumer pressure and supply chain standards the most available levers for improvement. Building advocacy capacity specifically on carp welfare is an underserved priority for the animal welfare community.