Carp are the most widely farmed fish globally, yet welfare considerations are rarely prioritised. Understanding their needs and improving production conditions reduces suffering at enormous scale.
The scale of carp production means welfare improvements deliver benefits across billions of animals. Traditional production systems present specific welfare challenges: seasonal oxygen depletion in ponds during hot weather causes mass mortality and prolonged distress before death; live markets keep fish for extended periods without appropriate water quality; slaughter by asphyxiation or live gutting is common. Welfare improvements — aeration systems preventing hypoxic events, humane slaughter using electrical stunning, and reduced holding durations at live markets — are technically straightforward and represent high-impact welfare interventions. Consumer and regulatory pressure in importing countries can drive welfare improvements in major producing nations.