Freshwater pearl mussels are among Britain's most endangered species, with conservation efforts raising questions about individual welfare in translocation and captive breeding programmes.
Freshwater pearl mussel conservation raises interesting welfare questions given the genuine uncertainty about bivalve sentience. If mussels can experience positive and negative states, their welfare in translocation and captive breeding is relevant. Regardless of individual welfare, the ecological role of mussels as water quality indicators and ecosystem engineers means their conservation has broad welfare implications for the river communities they support, including salmon and trout that depend on clean water. Conservation of this species through water quality improvement benefits the welfare of many other animals indirectly.