Catfish are among the most widely farmed freshwater fish in the United States and Asia. Slaughter practices for catfish have significant welfare implications given evidence for fish sentience and pain experience.
Catfish subjected to live processing without prior stunning experience acute pain and distress that may persist for many minutes. The evidence base supporting fish sentience is strong enough that most animal welfare scientists consider fish capable of suffering. Pre-slaughter electrical stunning is effective, inexpensive relative to other production costs, and could be rapidly implemented if regulatory requirements existed. Consumer pressure through product certification and direct advocacy to producers and regulators is the primary mechanism for change given the lack of legal requirements.