European and Japanese eels are among the most welfare-neglected farmed fish species, with intensive aquaculture systems creating serious welfare problems for animals with remarkable biology.
Eel farming combines a conservation crisis with serious welfare problems. The inability to breed eels in captivity means every farmed eel began as a wild-caught juvenile, directly depleting wild populations that are already critically endangered. In aquaculture, eels experience chronic stress from high densities and frequent handling. Slaughter often occurs without humane stunning. Consumers who value animal welfare and conservation should treat eel as a product to avoid entirely until sustainable, welfare-compliant production methods are developed and verified.