The fundamental dependence of eel aquaculture on wild-caught glass eels creates an irreducible tension between farming interests and the conservation of critically declining wild eel populations.
Eel aquaculture welfare exists within a conservation context that cannot be separated from welfare ethics. Every glass eel captured for farming is one that cannot complete its unique transoceanic life cycle, contributing its genetics to an already critically depleted spawning population. Individual eel welfare in aquaculture must be considered alongside this population-level welfare consideration. Welfare conditions within eel farms vary considerably, with water quality, stocking density, and handling practices affecting individual animal welfare. The most welfare-comprehensive approach to eel involves both improving individual animal welfare within farms and reducing overall demand through consumer education and alternative protein promotion.