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Captive-Bred Eels Hit Japanese Market After Cost Breakthrough
20 May
Summary
- Captive-bred Japanese eels will be sold starting May 29.
- Breeding costs reduced from over a million yen to 1,800 yen.
- Farmed eels are still more expensive than wild counterparts.
Japanese eels, along with the American variety, are classified as endangered by conservation groups. A significant development is the upcoming sale of captive-bred Japanese eels in Japanese shops starting May 29, aiming to alleviate pressure on wild populations. Japanese researchers have achieved a breakthrough by drastically reducing the cost of breeding eels from over one million yen to just 1,800 yen per eel.
This substantial cost reduction, achieved through numerous technological advancements, makes commercial farming more feasible. Although the price of captive-bred eels remains higher than wild ones, market testing is set to commence. The initiative, a collaboration between government, universities, and private entities, represents a world-first attempt at commercializing fully farmed eel production, a delicacy highly prized in Japan.
