The critically endangered European eel requires elvers (glass eels) harvested from rivers for restocking and aquaculture, with welfare concerns throughout the collection, transport, and restocking process.
European eel welfare during elver collection, transport, and restocking involves significant handling stress for an already imperilled species. High-density holding during processing causes oxygen depletion, physical damage, and cortisol elevation. For conservation restocking, welfare must be balanced against the urgent population recovery need. Minimising handling time, maintaining water oxygen levels, and using gentle collection methods significantly reduce welfare impacts. The complexity of eel welfare at multiple life stages requires species-specific guidance that is currently lacking in most regulatory frameworks.