Common carp are the most produced farmed fish globally, yet their welfare in pond aquaculture receives minimal attention despite clear evidence of stress capacity and pain experience.
Carp welfare occupies an unusual position in the global food system: the world's most produced farmed fish by volume, yet virtually absent from welfare policy discussions. The welfare evidence is clear enough to warrant concern — carp have nociceptors, show pain-consistent behaviour, and have cognitive capacity supporting genuine experience of distress. The traditional practices surrounding carp production and sale — live transport in crowded conditions, slaughter by asphyxiation or live icing — would be considered unacceptable welfare if applied to vertebrates with more cultural salience. The challenge is building consumer and regulatory awareness of carp welfare proportionate to the enormous scale of carp production and the strength of the welfare evidence.