Channel catfish is the most farmed fish in the United States — their welfare needs and the improvements possible in catfish aquaculture.
Catfish aquaculture welfare has received less scientific attention than salmon and trout despite enormous production volumes. These are sensory-sophisticated fish whose barbels detect chemical gradients and whose behavioral ecology is designed for bottom-dwelling complex environments. Commercial pond culture, while less intensive than some salmon aquaculture, creates oxygen depletion events, high-density stress, and inadequate environmental complexity for natural behavior expression. The welfare science foundation for catfish is less developed than for salmonids, creating gaps that industry has not systematically addressed. Building this evidence base and translating it into production standards is an important frontier in aquatic animal welfare.