European and Japanese eels farmed for food are sentient animals with almost no welfare protections.
Farmed eel welfare sits at the intersection of multiple concerns — a critically endangered species being farmed from wild-caught juveniles, using slaughter methods that cause prolonged suffering, with almost no welfare regulations. Eels are increasingly recognized as sentient animals — they demonstrate avoidance learning, navigation, and pain responses. Traditional slaughter by salting or live skinning causes acute and prolonged suffering. The conservation status of wild European eels makes the entire industry questionable on both welfare and sustainability grounds.