Carp are the most widely farmed fish in the world but receive almost no welfare attention. Understanding their sensory capacity and farming conditions is the first step toward meaningful welfare improvement.
The welfare of farmed carp is almost entirely unregulated and barely discussed, despite their status as the world's most farmed fish by volume. The sheer scale of production means even marginal per-animal improvements translate to enormous aggregate welfare gains. Carp are sentient fish capable of pain and stress responses; overcrowded, oxygen-depleted ponds cause chronic distress. Slaughter is rarely humane. Improving carp welfare requires the same evidence-based approach applied to salmon and trout: specifying water quality standards, reducing stocking density, and requiring effective stunning before slaughter. Consumer awareness and retailer demand are early-stage drivers of change in this neglected area.