Hagfish are ancient, jawless deep-sea animals harvested commercially for their skin. Their capacity for suffering and welfare in commercial fisheries deserves attention.
Hagfish are typically caught in baited traps and can remain alive in traps for extended periods before retrieval. Once on deck, they are killed by methods that vary widely in humaneness — some are simply left to suffocate. Their slime production under stress is a measurable welfare indicator. As deep-sea species, they are dramatically removed from their natural pressure and temperature environment during capture. The leather industry uses hagfish skin for wallets and belts marketed as exotic leather, driving demand that supports large-scale harvesting with minimal welfare oversight.