Billions in Black Market Trade Driving European Eel to Extinction

The European eel faces an existential crisis, with its population collapsing by more than 90% since the 1980s. A significant driver of this decline is the large-scale poaching and illicit export of juvenile glass eels to aquaculture farms outside Europe. This organized crime operation is estimated to generate up to €2-3 billion in peak years, with a single kilogram of glass eels potentially yielding over a tonne of adult eels in Asian fattening farms.

To combat this sophisticated trafficking, law enforcement agencies like Europol and INTERPOL have launched operations such as "LAKE." These efforts have led to record seizures and arrests of individuals involved in smuggling glass eels, often concealed in luggage. Traffickers employ methods like mixed consignments and false declarations to evade detection, further complicated by the difficulty in distinguishing juvenile eel species. The European eel is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN, as commercial breeding in captivity has not yet been achieved successfully.

Technological advancements are now offering new hope. Private companies and universities are developing rapid DNA testing kits that can identify eel species within minutes, significantly aiding customs officials and evidence collection for prosecutions. International cooperation is paramount, with organizations like CITES and initiatives such as the EU's action plan against wildlife trafficking emphasizing collaboration between source, transit, and consumer countries. Efforts at international forums, including the COP20 of CITES and the Wildlife Inter-Regional Enforcement (WIRE) Forum, aim to strengthen global partnerships to tackle this pervasive wildlife crime.