This November, the Sustainable Eel Group will be attending the twentieth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where Proposal 35 will be under discussion. This proposal, advocating for the uplisting of all anguillid eels to CITES Appendix II, represents a critical step towards securing the long-term future of these populations while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of the fishers, farmers, and traders who depend upon them. Attention to structural challenges in the international eel trade ensures that pressures are not merely shifted from one species or region to another, and that compliance remains achievable without imposing disruptive operational changes. Although the European eel, or A. anguilla, remains the focal point due to EU-led initiatives, other species such as Japanese eel (A. japonica), American eel (A. rostrata), and the tropical eels face similar risks, many being either endangered or poorly understood and therefore overlooked in current management strategies.

Decades of research into eel biology and global supply chains form the basis for SEG’s position on this issue. Despite the best efforts of governments and law enforcement authorities, criminal networks have repeatedly exploited gaps in existing protections, swapping out juveniles from other anguillid species, mislabelling shipments, or circumventing border inspections; and there is no sign that this will end any time soon. These species are almost identical in appearance, especially as juvenile glass eels or packed and processed eel meat, which makes misidentification common and deliberate substitution easy. This lack of traceability undermines legal fisheries, distorts market prices, and compromises the sustainability of wild stocks. By establishing a genus-wide uplisting, all traded anguillid species would be subject to consistent reporting, permitting, and non-detriment assessments, facilitating enforcement, supporting lawful operations, and creating a level playing field for compliant producers in every region.

Legal fishing, trade, and commercial aquaculture remain fully compatible with the proposed uplisting and stand to benefit in many respects. Farms, processors, and exporters can continue operations, but in a more predictable and manageable marketplace, reinforced by standardised customs procedures and improved oversight. Incentives for substitution or illegal activity stand to be reduced, offering protection to wild populations alongside commercial interests. From a European standpoint, operators can gain confidence in cross-border trade under a clear regulatory framework, contributing to stabilisation of markets previously affected by unmonitored flows of eel products. Producers across Asia, Oceania, and the Americas similarly benefit from consistent documentation, transparent supply chains, and fair access to markets, allowing legal businesses to operate with certainty and sustainability.

Proactive collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-Generals for the Environment (DG ENV) and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) strengthens this approach, demonstrating alignment between global conservation priorities and EU regulatory standards. Harmonised monitoring and regulations mitigate the risk of fishing pressure shifting between species or jurisdictions, encouraging countries that share migratory anguillid resources to adopt coordinated management. Such cooperation ensures that well-studied species, as well as less understood tropical eels, receive consistent protection and benefit from proactive conservation measures. The uplisting thereby cultivates an internationally coherent approach that extends protection across the diversity of anguillid species while maintaining practical, enforceable frameworks for trade.

International development considerations are central to the proposal: in regions where artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture are integral to local economies, compliance will be rewarded through premium pricing, transparent certification, and preferential market access, delivering economic benefits while safeguarding natural resources. Standardised permitting, traceability, and reporting integrate with local governance and development programmes, supporting training for fisheries personnel, capacity-building, and adoption of best practices. Aligning economic incentives with conservation outcomes encourages a virtuous cycle in which adherence to regulations produces tangible benefits for communities, markets, and wild eel populations alike, reinforcing sustainable development.

Beyond Proposal 35, SEG is pursuing a wider international agenda combining conservation, research, and sustainable trade. Partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and corporate partners within and outside the EU to improve monitoring, enhance scientific understanding of anguillid species, and create market mechanisms that reward responsible practices everywhere. Lessons learned from European eel management will no doubt inform strategies for maintaining healthy breeding populations of A. japonica, A. rostrata, and the tropical species, helping to prevent pressures from shifting across species and between regions. But through these initiatives, SEG also seeks to strengthen supply chains, support livelihoods and communities, and promote eel stewardship at a truly international scale. It is our intention that the Appendix II listing will be socially, economically, and environmentally beneficial.