Aquaculture

Farmed Eel European Species and Conservation

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is critically endangered, with complex welfare and conservation challenges around both wild capture and aquaculture.

Key Facts

European eel populations have declined by over 90% since the 1980s
All farmed European eels are grown from wild-caught glass eels due to failed captive breeding
Eel welfare in farms is poorly studied compared to other farmed fish
Electrofishing for glass eels is itself a source of welfare concern
EU regulations restrict glass eel fishing and require restocking programmes

Welfare Considerations

European eels face a dual welfare challenge: individual suffering in farms and population-level decline threatening the species. Wild glass eel capture for farming further depletes wild populations. The inability to breed eels in captivity makes sustainable eel farming dependent on wild stock, creating an irresolvable conservation-welfare tension.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate eel consumption to reduce demand on wild populations
Support conservation organisations working on eel population recovery
Advocate for farmed eel welfare standards despite conservation complications