Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 17 - 23 [ECONOMY]

Large consumption business strategy causes decrease of eels: experts

Regarding the issue of a sharp fall in the number of eels worldwide, researchers argue that it is urgently needed to impose restraints on the overfishing of eels and improve water quality.

In Japan, eels have been a major protein source since ancient times. Japan accounts for about 70% of eel consumption in the world. In February this year, the Environment Ministry designated the Japanese eel as an endangered species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is considering adding it to the Red List, which already includes the European eel.

Nihon University Professor Tsukamoto Katsumi, dubbed an “eel professor”, attributes the dramatic drop in numbers to reckless fishing practices, large-scale development works such as the construction of dams, and water pollution. “The ecology of eels has yet to be sufficiently understood and so it seems to take longer to develop a successful farming system. What we should do first is to tighten restrictions on excessive fishing. Taking protective measures at an international level is an urgent need.”

Eel farming has prospered in China since the late 1980s for export to Japan. Young European eels are shipped to China and raised in the inland areas by making use of cheap labor. Japanese supermarkets and convenience store chains purchase the eels in bulk and enter into price competition with each other in Japan’s market. Japan is held responsible for the decline of European eels as well.

Environmental journalist Ida Tetsuji said, “Charcoal grilled eels had been a delicacy enjoyed only a few times a year on special occasions. The steep decline was caused by endlessly expanding the consumption of the limited food resource in line with a low-margin, high-volume business strategy.”