Common carp is the most farmed fish species globally by volume, particularly in Asia and Eastern Europe, yet welfare standards for carp aquaculture lag far behind salmon and trout production.
Carp welfare represents a major unaddressed welfare concern in global food production. The sheer volume of carp produced annually - billions of fish - combined with welfare standards that often remain at minimal levels creates a situation where enormous suffering occurs largely out of public view. The welfare science for carp is less developed than for salmonids, but sufficient to support the conclusion that high stocking densities, poor water quality, and unstunned slaughter cause significant welfare harm. The lack of consumer pressure in most carp-consuming markets limits the commercial incentive for welfare improvement. International welfare organizations working on aquaculture welfare have an important role in extending attention to carp beyond the salmon-dominated discourse.