Glass eel transport from wild capture to aquaculture facilities involves significant mortality and stress, requiring welfare-focused protocols.
Glass eels are highly sensitive to oxygen depletion, temperature shock, and mechanical damage during transport. The concentration of hundreds of thousands of animals in small containers creates hypoxia risk. Cold chain management is critical but not universally applied. High transport mortality represents both welfare harm and conservation concern given the critically endangered status of European eels. Welfare-focused transport protocols using chilled, well-oxygenated water with low density significantly reduce mortality.