European eel farming relies on wild-caught juvenile eels (elvers), with poor welfare standards throughout the production cycle - the species is also critically endangered.
European eel farming presents a combined welfare and conservation crisis. The dependence on wild-caught juveniles for farming stock depletes a critically endangered species, while farm conditions - high stocking density, poor water quality, and inhumane slaughter - cause significant welfare harm. Consumer demand for farmed eel products drives both conservation loss and welfare harm. Avoiding farmed eel consumption is one of the clearest-cut cases where individual consumer choices have direct welfare and conservation impacts.