Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled animal groups globally. Their welfare significance and conservation status raise important questions about bivalve sentience and protection.
Freshwater mussels exist at a scientific frontier of welfare consideration. Their nervous systems are far simpler than those of vertebrates, and current evidence does not establish sentience. However, their profound ecological importance means their conservation matters enormously for the welfare of the many species that depend on the ecosystem services they provide. Water quality improvement, dam removal, and freshwater habitat protection are priorities for both mussel conservation and the broader ecosystem welfare they underpin.