China produces the vast majority of the world's farmed carp, raising important questions about welfare standards for fish that may have significant capacity for suffering.
The scale of carp farming in China represents one of the largest sources of potential fish suffering on Earth. Billions of carp are raised annually in conditions that frequently feature overcrowding, poor water quality, inadequate oxygen levels, and rough handling. Fish welfare science has progressed significantly in recent decades, with strong evidence that fish including carp experience pain and stress in ways that matter morally. The challenge of improving welfare for billions of aquatic animals across millions of small-scale farms in China is immense, but engagement with Chinese aquaculture producers, standards bodies, and consumer markets can drive gradual improvement.