Catfish are among the most widely farmed freshwater fish globally, and slaughter welfare practices vary enormously with significant welfare implications.
Catfish welfare at slaughter has received insufficient attention given the scale of production. Common practices including live hauling to processing facilities, ice-water chilling without prior stunning, and air exposure cause extended suffering before death. Evidence for catfish sentience is growing, and the case for applying welfare standards at slaughter is compelling. Industry adoption of humane pre-slaughter stunning is technically feasible and economically achievable, requiring primarily regulatory pressure and buyer specification.