Catfish are among the most widely farmed fish globally, particularly in the southern United States and Southeast Asia. Their welfare in intensive production systems warrants attention.
Farmed catfish welfare is poorly documented compared to salmon and trout aquaculture, despite enormous production volumes. Catfish behavioral responses to noxious stimuli and the presence of nociceptive pathways support the position that they experience pain-like states. Intensive pond culture in the US and cage culture in Southeast Asia both involve significant stocking densities that cause chronic crowding stress. Water quality management — oxygen levels, temperature, and ammonia — is the primary determinant of welfare outcomes in catfish systems. Pre-harvest management including pond draining and crowding before transport causes acute stress without mitigation. Welfare certification for catfish is essentially nonexistent, leaving consumers with no information about production welfare standards.