Another supermarket joins ban on live carp sales in Czechia this Christmas

In Czechia, more supermarket chains are banning the sale of live carp outdoors, a traditional but controversial Christmas practice. This year, Tesco joined the movement, following Lidl’s decision two years ago and Billa’s ban last year.

“Our goal is to promote a more responsible and sustainable approach,” said Iva Pavlousková, Tesco’s communications manager. She added that customers could still purchase chilled portions and whole carp in stores two weeks before Christmas, along with other fish options like salmon, trout, and cod.

Other chains have offered similar explanations. Lidl spokesperson Eliška Froschová Stehlíková said, “Our decision reflects our commitment to animal welfare and sustainability.” Billa also replaced live carp sales with pre-portioned fish.

Animal welfare advocates have long criticized the practice, citing stress, starvation, and poor handling of the fish. Lidl reports that carp transported to sales tubs endure weeks of overcrowding and starvation. Activists from Compassion in World Farming add that many fish suffocate in plastic bags or suffer from poor water conditions, such as exposure to chlorine in household bathtubs.

Fish ethologist Ondřej Slavík advises against taking live fish home. “If you buy carp, have it killed professionally on-site,” he said. “Returning an exhausted fish to a river during winter offers no chance of survival.”

The Czechia-based Christmas Without Violence campaign also condemns the tradition, highlighting the suffering carp endure before slaughter. “Each year, millions of fish experience fear, pain, disease, suffocation, hunger, and death,” the group states. They also warn that many street-sold carp are diseased, leading to slow and painful deaths.

However, some retailers continue to sell live carp. Kaufland, part of the same group as Lidl, defended the practice. Spokesperson Renata Maierl said trained staff ensure animal welfare standards are met. Penny Market and Globus also permit live carp sales through approved third-party vendors, citing customer demand. “For many, live carp symbolize Christmas,” Globus spokesperson Aneta Turnovská told health website Obnovitelne.cz.

Albert supermarkets, meanwhile, offer portioned Czech carp certified under Sustainable Fish Farming guidelines. 

Additionally, hydrobiologist Milan Říha of the Biological Center of the country’s Academy of Sciences told Czech media outlet Hospodářské noviny last year that if carp are euthanized swiftly and correctly—through proper handling, rapid stunning, and bleeding—their suffering compares to that of other farm animals during slaughter.

Each Christmas, Czech households consume approximately 1.5 million carp.