African catfish aquaculture is expanding rapidly across West Africa as an important protein source. Welfare conditions in small-scale pond systems require attention as the industry scales.
African catfish welfare in small-scale pond systems is shaped by the intersection of production economics and animal needs. While the air-breathing capacity of the species provides some buffer against dissolved oxygen crashes, other welfare challenges remain significant. Harvest by pond drainage concentrates fish into diminishing water volumes before killing, causing acute crowding stress. Traditional killing methods that are not instantaneous impose suffering on individuals. The rapid expansion of the industry without welfare guidance risks establishing poor welfare as the production norm at scale. Low-cost welfare improvements including rapid killing methods and improved harvest crowding management are achievable within the economic constraints of small-scale aquaculture.