European and Japanese eel farming involves high stocking densities, difficult handling, and limited welfare standards for animals with complex migration-driven biology.
Eel farming sits at the intersection of welfare neglect and conservation crisis. The dependence of eel farming on wild-caught glass eels directly harms already depleted wild populations, while farmed eels themselves are housed in conditions that cause significant chronic stress. Their drive to migrate — a deep biological imperative — cannot be expressed in farm conditions. Developing closed-cycle eel production and applying welfare standards to existing farms are twin priorities for improving outcomes for this species.