Welfare of Farmed Eels | Animal Welfare Hub

European and Asian eel aquaculture involves multiple significant welfare problems, with eels among the most neglected fish species in welfare science and policy.

Key Facts

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is critically endangered, making aquaculture dependent on wild-caught glass eels
Eels cannot be bred in captivity, requiring capture of juvenile eels from wild populations annually
High stocking densities in eel farms cause chronic stress and disease susceptibility
Eels are sensitive to handling and show acute stress responses during routine farm operations
Welfare standards specific to eels are largely absent from current aquaculture certification schemes

Welfare Considerations

Eel aquaculture combines conservation and welfare problems in a particularly acute way. The inability to breed eels in captivity means all farmed eels begin as wild-caught juveniles experiencing capture stress, transport, and adaptation to farming conditions. The critically endangered status of European eel means aquaculture is drawing from a population already under severe pressure. Within farms, high-density rearing causes chronic stress, and eels are frequently handled and graded in ways that cause injury. Welfare standards for eels have received minimal attention despite their scale of production.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate eel consumption given both conservation and welfare concerns
Support research into eel captive reproduction that could eventually eliminate wild capture dependency
Advocate for eel-specific welfare standards to be developed within aquaculture certification
Learn about the conservation status of European eel as part of responsible seafood choices