Delegates at an international conference on endangered species voted down a European Union proposal to introduce trade controls on all types of eel. The vote took place at the latest meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, held this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
European eels already fall under CITES protection, which means cross-border trade requires an official export permit. The EU and several partners sought to extend the same restrictions to every eel species, including the Japanese eel, citing concerns about declining stocks.
Japan opposed the move, warning that tighter controls could trigger sharp price rises at home. The government says roughly 70% of the eels eaten in Japan are imported. China and South Korea also rejected the proposal, as eel farming remains a significant industry in both countries.
The decision will be formally confirmed at the conference’s general meeting, scheduled for December 4.
