Against Nature
On the face of it, fishponds may look romantic and natural. In truth, carp production is as factory-like as any other animal husbandry.

Fish are intelligent and fascinating creatures. Behavioural studies have shown that fish have very good memories and learn from experience. Fish also display individual characters - some are bold and inquisitive; others are shy and passive - and are able to recognise their shoal mates. If left in natural environment, carp can live to up to 45 years. Carp have a wide field of vision and can even see above the surface. They have excellent sense of hearing and react to any subtle vibration, which helps them recognize danger in time. They can taste food without putting it in mouth thanks to taste buds on their body. We can only imagine what it feels like to taste one's own and companions' blood when being half-suffocated in a crammed vat.
- Dr. Andrzej Elzanowski, zoologist, lecturer at Wroclav University.

Mature females are caught by hatchery workers so that their roe can be stripped after spawning has been synchronised by a hormone injection. Roe from both sexes is then mixed in a bowl for fertilisation; eggs are transferred in jars for incubation. Newly born carp are transported to fishponds. They are later fished out and moved again several times as they grow older. are moved several times from one fishpond to another.

Stocking densities in fishponds are now up to 200 times higher than in 19th century due to intensive fertilization, feeding, and destroying unproductive plants and animals. That is why ponds are so stinky! The terminal stage starts in the autumn when, at the age of three, the animals are fished out and transported to store-ponds where, instead of hibernating, they stay awake until the Christmas slaughter.