More than a dozen countries have banned mink farming on welfare grounds since 2000, but the global trade continues in major producing nations, leaving millions of mink in conditions that cause serious welfare problems.
Mink are semi-aquatic mustelids with large home ranges, complex foraging behaviour and strong motivation for water access — all of which are impossible to provide in commercial wire cage farming systems. The welfare costs of mink farming are not disputed by researchers: stereotypic behaviour prevalence, self-mutilation rates and stress hormone levels in farmed mink are among the highest documented in any farmed species. National bans have removed over a hundred million mink annually from these conditions in Europe. The remaining challenge is reducing demand for mink fur globally and ensuring that remaining producing countries face market pressure to improve standards or cease production.