Farmed Eel Welfare and the Eel Crisis

European eels face a population crisis with stocks at historically low levels, while eel aquaculture depends entirely on wild-caught juvenile glass eels, creating a unique situation where farming cannot be separated from wild population welfare.

Key Facts

European eel populations have declined by over 95% since the 1970s making them critically endangered
Eel aquaculture cannot breed eels in captivity and relies entirely on wild-caught glass eels for stocking
Wild glass eel capture for aquaculture competes directly with natural population replenishment
Eels face significant welfare challenges in aquaculture from high stocking density and water quality management
The critically endangered status of European eels raises serious questions about the ethics of continued eel farming

Welfare Considerations

European eel aquaculture creates a unique ethical dilemma where farming depends on wild juvenile capture from an already critically endangered population. Every glass eel taken for farming is one fewer potential adult contributor to wild population recovery. Individual eel welfare in aquaculture is compromised by high stocking densities, water quality fluctuations, and slaughter without stunning. The combined population-level and individual welfare concerns create strong grounds for reducing or eliminating European eel farming while supporting wild population recovery programs.

What You Can Do

Avoid consuming European eel products given their critically endangered status
Support eel population recovery programs including fish pass installation and water quality improvement
Advocate for reduction and phase-out of glass eel capture for aquaculture given conservation status
Choose sustainable seafood alternatives to eel from populations in better conservation condition
Engage with seafood sustainability ratings that now identify European eel as a species to avoid