The Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) today launches a 30-day consultation period on a new draft of its sustainability standard for responsible capture, trade and farming in the European eel.
SEG is undertaking substantial review of its Standard. It has received comments from stakeholders on the current system to develop this new version.
The main aims of the revision are to simplify the Standard and assessment against it, leading to greater understanding and better implementation of the SEG certification scheme.
The review will aim to be ready for the next glass eel fishing season in October 2026 and will involve full consultation with stakeholders during 2026.
To see the new system and to provide your comments on it, by midnight of 15 July, please see:
https://www.sustainableeelgroup.org/30-day-consultation-on-new-version-8-0-june-2026/
From that page, it is also available in Dutch, French, German and Spanish.
Objectives
The SEG Standard will continue to set the benchmark as a Best Practice Code of Conduct for a Responsible Eel Sector. Specific aims in this improvement are:
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To continue and where possible increase its level of protection to the eel when it is fished, to aid its recovery,
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To make the Standard easier to understand, clearer and less ambiguous to interpret and audit,
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To make it more accessible and to more operators,
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To enable the certification scheme to be compatible with being accredited to ISO17065 in the future,
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To follow the procedures outlined in our 102 SEG Standard Development & Revision procedure.