Freshwater mussels are critically endangered in UK rivers. Their conservation involves habitat restoration and understanding the welfare implications of their complex life cycle.
Freshwater mussel welfare sits at the boundary of moral consideration given their simple nervous systems, but the ecological welfare role they play is clear - as filter feeders they improve water quality for countless other species. Their conservation crisis reflects the degraded state of UK river systems affecting the welfare of all dependent aquatic life. Habitat restoration for mussels simultaneously benefits salmon, trout, invertebrates, and all river-dependent wildlife.