Freshwater pearl mussels are among the world's most endangered animals, and conservation aquaculture programmes raise welfare questions about captive propagation.
Freshwater pearl mussel welfare in conservation aquaculture raises questions at the frontier of invertebrate welfare science. As bivalves, freshwater pearl mussels are at the lower end of current welfare concern, but their extraordinary longevity - individuals may live a century or more - and the complexity of their life cycle involving fish hosts give pause for consideration. The conservation imperative of preventing extinction justifies captive propagation, but welfare-conscious husbandry that minimises unnecessary stressors during the hatchery phase is appropriate. Host fish welfare during the parasitic juvenile stage is also relevant - salmonids can carry mussel glochidia without apparent welfare compromise, but fish welfare should be monitored during propagation.