The European eel is critically endangered and farmed in aquaculture using wild-caught glass eels, creating both conservation and welfare concerns about intensive production methods.
European eel welfare in aquaculture is complicated by the species' cryptic behaviour and limited welfare research. High-density RAS production prevents natural sediment-burrowing and reduces light-avoidance possibilities. The conservation crisis interacts with welfare concerns, as eel aquaculture depends entirely on wild capture of critically endangered animals.