The Sustainable Eel Group has responded to the EC Consultation ‘Preventing Illegal Trade in Wildlife – Revision of EU Action Plan’:

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“The efforts of the European Commission and Member States, as a result of the 2016 Action Plan to tackle wildlife crime, has had a positive impact on reducing the illegal trade of eels.  Whilst levels of illegal trade are, by definition, difficult to measure, indicators from Europol suggest that the level of glass eel trafficking from Europe to Asia in 2020, had reduced to approx. 50% of that in 2016.  That was a reduction from about 100 tonnes, (300 million baby eels), with a direct value of €100 million to 50 tonnes (150 million fish), worth €50 million.

This level of reduction is very welcomed, and we applaud the efforts of the EC, members states, Europol and other enforcement agencies in achieving this.”

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Read our full response here