Eels are farmed in significant numbers across Asia and Europe for food markets, yet their welfare during production is among the least studied of any commercially farmed fish, and their complex biology presents unique husbandry challenges.
Farmed eel welfare is compromised at multiple points in the production cycle. Wild glass eel collection from critically endangered wild populations creates both conservation and welfare concerns during capture and transport. High-density grow-out in tanks without environmental complexity denies eels their naturally secretive, bottom-dwelling behaviour and causes chronic stress. Poor water quality from intensive stocking elevates ammonia exposure and respiratory challenge. Slaughter practices in eel aquaculture have received increasing scrutiny, with evidence that common methods including chilling in ice slurries do not reliably cause rapid unconsciousness. The lack of regulatory oversight for eel welfare compared to salmon or trout production reflects their perceived lower status despite comparable evidence of sentience.