Freshwater mussels are among the most imperilled animals on Earth — over 70% of North American species are at risk — yet their welfare and conservation needs receive little public attention.
Whether mussels experience suffering in a morally significant way is scientifically uncertain given their limited nervous systems. However, their ecological role means their loss creates enormous welfare harms for fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates that depend on clean water. Protecting mussel populations protects entire aquatic welfare ecosystems.