Lampreys are ancient jawless fish of conservation importance whose welfare in river habitats is affected by barriers, pollution and commercial exploitation.
Lamprey welfare is primarily a habitat quality issue — migration barriers prevent adults reaching spawning grounds, causing population-level welfare harm. Pollution events during the extended larval period in riverbed sediments can cause mass mortality. Commercial exploitation is limited in the UK but sea lamprey are still trapped for human consumption in some areas. Barrier removal and river quality improvement are the most effective welfare and conservation interventions.