7 November 2024 (London, England) – With wildlife trafficking currently under intense international scrutiny, the Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) urges the global community to direct its focus towards the illegal and highly lucrative trade in live glass eels, particularly European eels (Anguilla anguilla), whose populations are critically endangered. This illicit market, fuelled by high demand in East Asia, poses a severe threat to the survival of the species and requires a coordinated response akin to that demonstrated this week at the United for Wildlife (UfW) Global Summit.

Prince William, a leading voice in the fight against wildlife crime, introduced the ‘International Statement of Principles’ at the event in Cape Town, with key nations such as the UK, Canada, and South Africa pledging to take joint actions against financial crime networks that fund and profit from illegal wildlife trade. This commitment aligns with SEG’s own mission to combat the trafficking of European eels, which has become one of the most lucrative and harmful illegal trades, with an estimated value reaching billions of dollars annually​.

‘European eels are a keystone species for aquatic ecosystems across Europe’, according to SEG Director Andrew Kerr. ‘However, due to the high value placed on young eels in East Asian markets, we are seeing their populations decimated by illegal smuggling networks. We commend the steps being taken by United for Wildlife and the international community to strengthen enforcement and disrupt financial networks, as these actions are directly relevant to the survival of the eel’.

The illicit trade of European eels, often routed through a web of European and Asian crime syndicates, mirrors the challenges of trafficking other endangered species such as rhinos, elephants, and pangolins. SEG supports the multilateral partnerships between governments and international organisations, including the involvement of INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to curb wildlife trafficking. These efforts are urgently needed for the European eel, as current enforcement measures remain limited compared to the scale and profitability of the illicit trade.

This week’s summit emphasised the need for united international action and cross-sector cooperation to address wildlife trafficking, and SEG advocates for the expansion of these principles to encompass critical protections for aquatic species. With appropriate backing, SEG believes that sustainable practices, combined with effective law enforcement, can help rebuild the fragile populations of the European eel, which also play a critical role in Europe’s freshwater ecosystems.

SEG calls upon the financial and transport sectors to remain vigilant and prioritise efforts to trace and report suspicious shipments and transactions involving European eel exports. As demonstrated in the recent high-profile convictions and increased law enforcement presence inspired by UfW’s initiatives, tracing illicit financial activity can lead to meaningful deterrents and a reduction in poaching pressures.

SEG’s own contributions to the anti-trafficking effort are documented in detail in a report by the Hull International Fisheries Institute.