Welfare challenges specific to eel farming, including their complex biology, sensitivity to stress, and the wild capture pressure from aquaculture demand.
Eel farming has a dual welfare and conservation problem. The species cannot yet be bred in captivity, meaning all farmed eels began as wild-caught juveniles - directly depleting an already critically endangered wild population. Within farms, eels are exposed to high-density conditions that cause stress and injury. Their elongated bodies and mucus-covered skin make handling particularly stressful, and standard slaughter practices often involve methods considered inhumane for fish with demonstrated pain responses.