Bivalves including mussels, oysters, and clams are among the most farmed aquatic animals globally. The scientific debate about their capacity for pain and sentience has welfare implications for farming and slaughter practices.
Current scientific consensus suggests bivalves are unlikely to experience pain in a morally significant way due to their simple nervous systems. However, the evidence is not conclusive and precautionary approaches are reasonable. Farming practices that minimise physical trauma during harvest and slaughter are consistent with good welfare practice even under uncertainty. Live transport for human consumption typically involves extended periods out of water for species that cannot survive desiccation, which may cause stress responses even without conscious experience.