Eels are farmed extensively for Japanese and East Asian markets. Their welfare needs are poorly understood, handling stress is significant, and slaughter methods are largely unstandardised.
Eel welfare in aquaculture combines significant individual welfare concerns with a serious conservation crisis. The dependence on wild-caught glass eels for stock means eel farming directly threatens wild populations while creating welfare obligations for billions of individually handled fish. Eels are sensitive to handling stress, displaying mucus secretion, writhing, and elevated cortisol during capture and transport. Their capacity for pain-like responses means current slaughter methods — including live gutting while conscious — are likely to cause significant suffering if eels have morally relevant welfare states. The precautionary principle argues for implementing more humane slaughter methods. Industry standards for eel welfare are largely undeveloped compared to salmon; welfare certification bodies have rarely addressed eel-specific criteria.