Catfish are among the most important farmed fish globally, particularly in the United States and Southeast Asia, with welfare considerations centred on water quality, stocking density, and slaughter methods.
Catfish welfare in aquaculture varies dramatically between production systems and regions. In the United States, pond-based channel catfish production involves relatively low stocking densities and moderate handling stress. Vietnamese pangasius aquaculture has faced welfare and environmental scrutiny around water quality and stocking density. Slaughter methods for catfish are particularly concerning, as the species' physiological hardiness means they can survive conventional slaughter attempts for extended periods. Species-specific humane slaughter standards for catfish are urgently needed to address this welfare gap.