Carp are the most widely farmed fish species globally, and advanced welfare practices are transforming production standards in traditional farming regions.
Carp welfare has historically received less attention than salmonid welfare because production is concentrated in regions with less developed animal welfare regulatory frameworks. Yet carp share with other teleost fish the neurological capacity for pain and stress responses. The traditional harvest method — progressive netting of ponds over several days with increasing crowding — causes severe acute stress in an already oxygen-depleted environment. Advanced producers are implementing aerated transport tanks, rapid harvest protocols, and pre-slaughter stunning. The economic case is strengthened by evidence that stressed carp have poorer flesh quality, meaning welfare improvements align with commercial incentives. Consumer markets in Europe importing carp increasingly specify welfare conditions.