Freshwater mussels are among the most endangered groups of animals globally, with their welfare status increasingly considered alongside conservation priorities.
The sentience status of freshwater mussels is uncertain - they are bivalves with limited nervous systems - but their welfare as individuals is secondary to the conservation emergency of their populations. The ecological welfare consequences of mussel loss are significant: as filter feeders, mussels provide water quality services that benefit fish, amphibians, and invertebrates throughout river ecosystems. Losing mussel populations degrades habitat for thousands of species dependent on clean, clear water.