Freshwater mussels are among the world's most endangered animals. Their welfare and survival are intimately linked to river water quality and the host fish populations on which their larvae depend.
Freshwater mussel welfare considerations are complex given scientific uncertainty about their sentience. While they have nervous systems, the question of whether they experience suffering in ways comparable to vertebrates remains open. From an ecological welfare perspective, their extreme decline represents a major conservation crisis. The welfare of the salmonid fish on which their larvae depend is directly connected to mussel persistence - clean rivers that support healthy salmon populations simultaneously support mussel recovery.