Channel catfish aquaculture is a major industry in the southern United States, with growing attention to improving welfare outcomes through better management practices and research.
Channel catfish share the challenge of most aquaculture species: they are managed primarily for production efficiency with welfare as a secondary consideration at best. Catfish are fish with complex behavior, pain responses, and stress physiology - they experience stress and discomfort in ways that matter morally. The welfare improvements available in catfish farming are not exotic or expensive: appropriate stocking density, adequate dissolved oxygen, disease monitoring, and harvest methods that minimize air exposure time are achievable with current technology. The gap between best practice and typical practice in catfish farming is significant, and closing this gap requires both market signals supporting better welfare and access to practical guidance for producers.