Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled animals on Earth, with 70% of North American species threatened by habitat degradation, pollution, and invasive species, raising unique welfare questions.
While the sentience of mussels remains scientifically uncertain, their ecological role as filter feeders makes their welfare synonymous with ecosystem health. Declining mussel populations indicate degraded freshwater ecosystems that harm all resident aquatic species. Conservation of mussel populations protects the broader freshwater welfare community.