Common carp and related species are the most produced fish in global aquaculture, and their welfare has received far less attention than salmonids despite their numerical dominance.
Carp welfare represents the largest unaddressed welfare gap in global aquaculture by sheer volume. The focus of fish welfare improvement efforts has been disproportionately on high-value salmonids, while the billions of carp produced annually receive minimal welfare consideration. Research on carp cognition and pain responses confirms they warrant moral consideration. Key welfare improvements include stocking density management, water quality monitoring, reduced handling stress during harvest, and pre-slaughter stunning. Welfare progress for carp is achievable and would represent an enormous reduction in potential suffering given production volumes.