Freshwater species including catfish, tilapia, and carp are among the most farmed fish globally, particularly in Asia and Africa. Their welfare deserves the same attention as marine species.
Freshwater farmed fish are often overlooked in welfare discussions that focus on Atlantic salmon. Yet the scale of freshwater aquaculture globally dwarfs salmon production, and the welfare problems — crowding, poor water quality, disease, and inadequate slaughter standards — are comparable. Tilapia and catfish have nervous systems capable of nociception and show consistent stress responses. Welfare improvements in freshwater aquaculture — including stocking density limits, water quality monitoring, and humane slaughter requirements — are urgently needed and can be achieved without prohibitive cost.