London, England (5 August 2024) – The Sustainable Eel Group is excited to announce the upcoming release of an independent report from the University of Hull International Fisheries Institute, scheduled for publication later this month. The report presents the most extensive analysis to date of SEG’s contributions to countering trafficking and advancing sustainability in the commercial eel fishing sector. And it incorporates a review of the impact of the SEG Standard, demonstrating the strides made toward improving sustainability and traceability across the European eel supply chain.

Important aspects of the Sustainable Eel Group’s efforts covered in the document include:

• Certification: The report will outline SEG’s success in certifying a significant portion of European glass eel catches and aquaculture facilities, ensuring adherence to the highest sustainability standards.
• Traceability: By bolstering traceability within the commercial eel sector, the report will demonstrate that SEG has effectively differentiated between operators adhering to best practices and those operating outside responsible fisheries management.
• Compliance: The effect of regular revisions and improvements to the Standard will be explored in detail, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to maintaining robust sustainability guidelines.
• Influence: The report will also explore SEG’s influence beyond certification, including its collaboration with international agencies to enhance awareness and enforcement against illegal eel trafficking.

This upcoming report is expected to highlight the progress made by SEG to date, but also areas in which it could do better, such as improving transparency in monitoring and reporting. SEG is committed to working with its partners to address these challenges, particularly in encouraging greater certification uptake among restocking operators and underrepresented fisheries.

Whilst ‘the key takeaway’ for chairman Andrew Kerr, ‘is that [the group’s] substantial efforts to protect the European eel, or Anguilla anguilla, are paying off’, he acknowledges that the industry ‘must remain vigilant to prevent setbacks’. ‘The trafficking issue is now shifting to the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, causing significant challenges’ for both species.

As anticipation builds for this report, SEG continues to advocate for greater public awareness of eel trafficking issues and strategic investment in counter-trafficking measures. The organisation remains committed to collaborating with partners in science, conservation, and the commercial sector to engage in open exchange and offer a positive and inclusive for the European eel’s future. For more information about the report or to receive a copy upon its release, do feel free to get in touch.