Channel catfish farming in the US South is one of the largest aquaculture industries in the country, with welfare considerations around pond management, crowding during harvest, and slaughter practices.
US catfish aquaculture welfare encompasses the full production cycle from pond management to slaughter. Summer oxygen depletion events in warm southern ponds cause acute welfare crises when algal blooms die and consume dissolved oxygen. Crowding during harvest using seines causes injury from physical contact with other fish and nets. Electrical stunning before slaughter, when properly applied, can achieve rapid unconsciousness, but implementation quality varies. The economic pressure on the US catfish industry from cheaper imported product has reduced margins available for welfare investment. Welfare certification schemes could create market differentiation that rewards investment in better welfare practices.