Aquaculture

European Eel Welfare in Aquaculture Systems

European eel is a Critically Endangered species increasingly farmed in recirculating aquaculture systems, with welfare challenges unique to their complex biology and life history.

Key Facts

European eel is listed as Critically Endangered with population declines of over 95% since the 1980s
All farmed eels originate from wild-caught glass eels as captive reproduction has not been achieved commercially
Eels are carnivorous and highly cannibalistic, requiring careful management in intensive systems
They are catadromous, migrating from rivers to spawn in the Sargasso Sea

Welfare Considerations

Welfare concerns include very high stocking densities in RAS systems, cannibalism causing injury and mortality, capture stress of wild glass eels, electrofishing injury during wild collection, and lack of validated stunning protocols for a species that is highly resistant to conventional stunning methods. The welfare of eel farms depends significantly on collection and transport of wild juveniles.

What You Can Do

Avoid buying European eel products given the species' Critically Endangered status
Support regulatory measures to restrict glass eel fishing
Advocate for welfare inclusion in eel aquaculture licensing requirements
Choose alternative seafood species not dependent on wild-caught juveniles