The decision comes two years after Lidl banned the practice and one year after Billa also opted to go ‘tankless’ in the lead-up to Christmas.
Explaining the decision, Iva Pavlouskova, Tesco’s communications manager, said: “We have decided not to allow the sale of live carp in tubs in front of our stores for the first time this year—with this step, we want to inspire others to take a more responsible and sustainable approach.”
For several decades, it has been commonplace for families to buy their festive carp while still alive, keeping it in the bathtub before killing it fresh ahead of Christmas dinner.
In recent times, however, the tradition has faced a backlash with animal rights campaigners branding the practice cruel.
“The temperature difference in bathtubs, combined with chlorinated water, creates an environment that is toxic and distressing for the carp,” says Ondrej Slavik, a fish expert from the Czech University of Life Sciences.
“The fish often exhibit signs of extreme stress, such as poor respiration, necrosis and erratic swimming,” he added. Moreover, the fish also risk suffocating in the plastic bags used to transport them from the vendor.
Tesco’s announcement coincides with a campaign in Prague aimed at raising awareness about the plight of the fish.
Deputy Mayor Jiří Pospíšil told a press conference: “We want to emphasize that certain practices surrounding carp handling are extremely cruel and cause immense suffering for these animals—this issue has been discussed for many years and some retailers have already taken steps to address it.”
Pospíšil emphasized that the campaign did not seek to ban the sale of live carp but to encourage humane handling.
According to estimates, approximately 1.5 million carp are eaten by Czechs at Christmas.
