Catfish and other bottom-feeding fish are farmed intensively, particularly in Asia and the United States. Their welfare needs differ from surface-feeding species and require species-specific management approaches.
Catfish welfare in aquaculture requires attention to species-specific sensory systems and behavioural needs. The extensive chemoreceptor distribution in catfish makes them particularly sensitive to water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and nitrites. Periods of sub-optimal water quality cause chronic stress and immune suppression even when not immediately lethal. Competition for food in high-density conditions causes stress and injury from social aggression. The complex sensory world of catfish including lateral line vibration detection and chemical communication is disrupted by the artificial acoustic and chemical environments of intensive systems. Outdoor pond systems that allow more natural behaviour and water quality management generally provide better welfare than intensively managed indoor tank systems.