Aquaculture

Welfare of Farmed Eels

European and Japanese eels are farmed intensively for food despite significant welfare concerns and severe wild population declines.

Key Facts

European eel populations have declined by over 95% since the 1970s
Farmed eels are harvested from wild glass eel stocks, threatening populations
Eels show pain responses and have complex behavioral repertoires
Slaughter methods for eels are poorly standardized and often inhumane
Eel farming requires live capture and prolonged intensive confinement

Welfare Considerations

Farmed eels experience welfare harms from capture stress, intensive confinement, and inhumane slaughter. The sustainability crisis facing wild eel populations makes this doubly concerning, as the industry depends on capturing wild juveniles.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate eel consumption given welfare and sustainability concerns
Advocate for sustainable eel population management and farming reforms
Support research into humane eel slaughter and closed-cycle farming
Choose seafood alternatives with lower welfare and conservation impact