How to treat carp? Recommendations of the Chief Veterinary Officer

Carp on the Christmas Eve table is our holiday tradition. Caring for the welfare of sold fish should also become a permanent habit. The Chief Veterinary Officer has issued recommendations on how to handle live specimens sold in stores and at market stalls. The rules concern the keeping of fish and their humane killing.

Rules for the humane killing of carp

The Chief Veterinary Officer emphasizes that the best solution is to sell fish already killed. However, if the seller decides to trade live carp, they are bound by the regulations: the Animal Protection Act and the European Community Council Regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

According to these regulations, killing carp should be done humanely. For fish, this means a mechanical method (a strike to the frontal part of the skull) or using electric current.

It is important that the killing does not take place in front of customers. Staff should work behind a screen, portable partition, or in another place not visible to bystanders. This is an absolute requirement – failure to comply may result in criminal penalties under Article 35 of the Animal Protection Act.

The person killing the carp must be an adult and should have experience in fish farming or training in their welfare, stunning, or killing.

Good keeping conditions – minimizing suffering

Live fish should be kept under strictly defined conditions. The tank must have smooth walls and edges, and clean, oxygenated or aerated water should be replaced every 12 hours (⅓ of the volume).

The Chief Veterinary Officer also defined the maximum stocking density in the tank. There should be no more than 1 kg of fish body weight per 1 liter of water. Fish must not have visible injuries or wounds – if any are observed, the injured individual should be immediately killed.

How to respond in case of irregularities?

Anyone who notices inhumane treatment of carp in a store or at a stall should report it to the police. Such actions may be treated as an offense under the Animal Protection Act.

Non-governmental organizations dealing with animal welfare issues (Viva, Otwarte Klatki) also recommend gathering evidence: taking photos or recordings from the place of sale. It is also advisable to find other witnesses. If irregularities are found, one can also contact representatives of these organizations.

Carp welfare does not end at the moment of purchase

Customers themselves are also obliged to care for carp welfare. This concerns not only reporting irregularities but also proper transport. The container must not be completely sealed and should allow the carp to assume a natural body position without bending or compression. The package must contain water (at least twice the animal’s weight). Transport should be as short as possible.

It is also important to remember that carp should not be released into lakes, ponds, or rivers. A released fish often dies due to thermal shock, contact with parasites, or diseases. Carp is a non-native species that threatens ecosystem balance. It may only be kept in ponds.