Common carp are the most popular recreational fish in Europe, and welfare standards for catch-and-release fishing practices significantly affect individual fish outcomes.
Carp welfare in recreational fishing occupies an unusual position: fishers often develop genuine concern for individual fish they catch repeatedly, creating a welfare-positive culture within specialist carp angling. However, welfare practices vary considerably, with differences between organized club fishing and informal recreational fishing significant in terms of handling standards. The scientific evidence for carp nociception and stress responses supports treating welfare during capture and release as a genuine ethical concern. Key welfare improvements including minimizing air exposure, using wet hands and unhooking mats, removing hooks carefully with appropriate tools, and supporting fish in the water before release are achievable with minimal cost but require consistent promotion.