The European eel is critically endangered yet farmed in substantial numbers across Europe, creating an unusual situation where aquaculture of a species requiring conservation raises complex welfare and ethical questions.
Eel aquaculture presents a dual welfare-conservation problem. Wild glass eel collection for farming removes individuals from populations already under severe pressure, causing both individual welfare harm through capture stress and population-level harm through depletion. Farmed eels in high-density RAS systems experience handling stress, water quality challenges, and the welfare implications of high stocking densities. The inability to breed eels in captivity means the industry is permanently dependent on wild capture - an ethical problem given the species' conservation status. The most welfare-positive position combines support for wild eel recovery with reduced demand for farmed eel products.