The billion-euro trade driving Europe's eels to extinction
Traffickers are making big bucks smuggling millions of critically endangered eels across continents, in suitcases on planes or by exploiting legal loopholes to end up on dinnerplates. Where are the smuggling hotspots?
In the small Basque town of Plentzia, eel fishing was once a vital part of life. However, a recent ban now prevents local fisherfolk from catching these prized delicacies. Authorities describe this restriction as part of a global trade in European eels, valued at around a billion euros, which has driven the population of the critically endangered species to decline by around 95% since the 1980s.
Local fishermen argue that the regulations unfairly target those following the rules, while criminal networks profit from the illegal trade. Unai Eizaguirre, an experienced eel fisherman, expressed frustration with the situation. Conservationists recognize the ban as an emergency response to multiple threats, including pollution and climate change, but they also advocate for longer-term solutions.
These include removing hydroelectric dams that impede eel migration and kill them with their turbines. The life cycle of European eels, a critical factor in their vulnerability, remains shrouded in mystery. Scientists have discovered that adult eels travel thousands of kilometers from European rivers to the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic for spawning, and their larvae drift back to Europe.
Today, only about 12% of the young glass eels survive the journey, making them the most valuable in the illegal trade, fetching up to €9000 per kilogram. Traffickers exploit the lucrative demand in Asian countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan, and the high profits, combined with light penalties, make the risk worthwhile.
Conservationists hope that the EU's export ban in 2010 would alleviate pressure on the species, but organized crime groups have now become significant players, generating an estimated €3 billion in profits. International law enforcement, such as Europol's Operation Lake, has made arrests and seized large quantities of illegal eels.
Nevertheless, criminal networks continue to adapt their methods, exploiting new smuggling routes like the one through North Africa via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. The disappearance of European eels poses a significant threat to ocean and riverine ecosystems, as they serve as important indicators of environmental health and prey for various species.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
