26 June 2025 (Brussels, Belgium) — The Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) is proud to announce it has been officially recognised as ISEAL Code Compliant. Its system has been independently evaluated against ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice – a globally recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. The SEG Standard, a best practice code of conduct for a responsible eel sector, has been developed under this system.
This designation confirms that SEG’s certification and assurance system has been independently evaluated against a globally recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems.
We are proud to be an ISEAL Code Compliant member, committed to improving our system by using the ISEAL Code as our framework for improvement.
“Becoming an ISEAL Code Compliant member is a very important milestone,” said Andrew Kerr, Chairman of SEG . It is the result of the three interests of eel – economic, social and environmental – all working together, informed by sound science. We accomplished this with a passionate and dedicated team, just 15 years after introducing our prototype version – a remarkable achievement.”
The ISEAL Code Compliant status follows a nine-year journey when, in 2016, SEG decided that it would pursue ISEAL Community Membership to seek independent recognition of the SEG Standard and its supporting framework. SEG became an ISEAL Community Member in 2019.
David Bunt, Manager of the SEG Standard System, said:
“The SEG Standard is designed to help protect and recover vulnerable population of the European Eel, while supporting responsible use and maintaining cultural traditions and livelihoods. I am very proud of our team and the recognition we’ve achieved.”
Alex Koelewijn, SEG’s Director for the Commercial Sector, added:
“The eel trade has evolved into a quite responsible sector in the past 15 years. Today, businesses understand they must act as custodians of the eel. The SEG Standard gives them clear and credible guidelines to demonstrate that.”
Dr. Willem Dekker, SEG’s Scientific Advisor, said:
“The SEG Standard has been designed to support the 2007 EU Eel Regulation, which was developed for the recovery and sustainable use of the European eel. Our ISEAL Code Compliant status helps to recognise how successful SEG’s efforts are.”
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