Carp are the world's most farmed fish by volume, yet welfare considerations in carp culture remain underdeveloped, with density, handling, and slaughter requiring urgent attention.
Carp welfare is largely invisible in global food system discussions despite the species' dominance in aquaculture. Pain and stress responses in carp are well-documented: they show avoidance learning, physiological stress responses to overcrowding, and behavioural changes consistent with pain. Common welfare failures include severely overcrowded ponds, abrupt temperature changes during harvest, live transport in crowded containers, and slaughter without prior stunning. The lack of species-specific welfare regulations in major producing countries (China, India, Bangladesh) means welfare improvements depend on industry leadership and buyer pressure. Meaningful welfare progress requires stocking density standards, handling protocols, and stunning mandates.