The CITES Standing Committee deliberates on a proposal to regulate international trade in eel species, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on November 27. (©Kyodo)
At the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), delegates rejected a proposal on November 27 to tighten international trade rules for all eel species, including the Japanese unagi.
When the meeting opened in Uzbekistan on November 24, the European Union (EU) and several other parties had pushed for a blanket regulation covering every eel species.
The Japanese government opposed the measure and lobbied actively against it. China and the United States also voiced their opposition. The measure faced overwhelming opposition, with 100 countries voting against it, 35 in favor, and eight abstaining.
It was formally taken up at the December 4 plenary session and ultimately shelved.
Relief Now, Scrutiny Ahead
Stakeholders breathed a sigh of relief as stricter regulations could have driven up trade prices. But while Japan's lobbying efforts succeeded this time, eel resource management remains inadequate.
The EU argued that Japanese eel stocks had declined significantly and were indistinguishable from European eel, which is already subject to an export ban. They claimed this had fueled illegal trade.
Japan responded that its eel stocks remain sufficient.
That said, stricter resource management is unavoidable. Poaching and illegal trade overseas are rampant, and pressure is growing on Japan to act responsibly as a major consumer.
Tracking the Trade
Starting in December, the Fisheries Agency will require businesses to create and keep records of domestic transactions for juvenile eels, or shirasu.
Most domestic eels are farmed, but reported catches fall far short of the quantities the agency estimates are entering aquaculture ponds.
This gap makes it essential to clarify the actual situation.
Roughly 70% of Japan's domestic eel supply now comes from imports. An estimated three-quarters of Chinese shipments are believed to originate from illegal fishing, pointing to the need to clarify distribution channels.
RELATED:
- Narita Eel Festival Returns with 118 Participating Shops
- China Contradicts Its Own Fake News by Fishing Off Sanriku
- Japan Must Show Allies It Can Tackle China’s Illegal Fishing More Firmly
Author: Katsutoshi Takagi, The Sankei Shimbun
(Read this in Japanese)
