Overview

• The European Union, joined by the Dominican Republic, Panama and Honduras, formally proposed on June 28 to add all 19 eel species to CITES Appendix II.
• A CITES Appendix II listing would mandate export permits and monitoring aimed at curbing threats from overfishing, pollution and habitat loss.
• Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi asserts Japan’s joint stock management with neighbouring nations ensures eel populations face no extinction risk from trade.
• Conservationists warn that eels’ transoceanic migrations and poorly understood reproductive cycle complicate enforcement of international trade controls.
• Japanese officials highlight unagi’s cultural significance and stable population data to argue against imposing new CITES restrictions.