Catfish are among the most widely farmed fish globally, particularly in the USA, Vietnam, and parts of Africa. Their welfare needs in aquaculture are poorly publicised.
Catfish welfare occupies an awkward space in aquaculture ethics. Their hardiness makes them economical to farm in high-density conditions, but their tolerance of poor water quality does not mean they are indifferent to it. Welfare-relevant problems including chronic fin damage from aggression, high disease incidence, and inadequate slaughter stunning are common in intensive catfish production. The global scale of catfish farming - particularly the enormous Vietnamese pangasius industry supplying UK supermarkets - means welfare improvements would benefit huge numbers of individuals.