4 October (Brussels, Belgium) – The Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) would like to express its support for the ongoing Europol co-ordinated operations against live eel and eel meat trafficking, which has successfully exposed new smuggling routes through Sub-Saharan Africa. This significant development highlights the ongoing challenges in the fight against wildlife trafficking, both in a general sense, and in relation to the critically endangered European eel.

In 2024 alone, law enforcement agencies have made over 100 arrests related to glass eel trafficking, contributing to a total of 850 arrests since the launch of these operations in 2016. Most typically, these glass eels have been illegally harvested from European waters, with France, Spain, and Portugal representing the principal sources for smuggling operations destined for eel farms in East Asia. In recent years, however, the success of anti-trafficking operations in European Union jurisdictions has forced traffickers to adapt, leading to the emergence of more complex underground transit routes through Mauritania and Senegal.

Europol with Interpol has played a pivotal role in coordinating global operations against wildlife trafficking, bringing together law enforcement from EU member states and third countries, as well as international organisations. The group’s recent operation has resulted in the seizure of some five tonnes of trafficked glass eels, bringing the total to more than 87 tonnes (250 plus million eels) since these annual operations began. The Sustainable Eel Group stands in solidarity with these efforts and emphasises the need for even greatercollaboration to enforce laws against organised international criminals. Tellin the stories of these successes helps to raise awareness about sustainable eel practices and conservation initiatives.

For chairman Andrew Kerr, ‘the trafficking of glass eels is not merely an environmental crime, but a complex issue that impacts biodiversity, ecosystem function, and local community dynamics’. ‘The cooperation among over 40 countries during this operation is testament not only to the relentless efforts of Europol and its international partners, but to the global commitment needed to dismantle these criminal networks and protect our endangered eels’.

As the 2024-2025 operational period begins, the Sustainable Eel Group remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at preserving eel populations and combating illegal trafficking.