Eel fisheries from local to global: drivers of exploitation and prospects for sustainability

Freshwater eels (family Anguillidae) are at the centre of a complex interaction between social, economic and ecological forces and conservation efforts. Several species of eel are highly valued for consumption, primarily in East Asia. However, some of these same species have experienced steep declines in stocks and recruitment, with the American and Japanese eels considered endangered and the European eel critically endangered. Depending on factors that limit supply, such as stricter regulations and declining abundance, prices, especially for the juveniles ('glass eels') can reach high levels, thereby incentivising intensive fishing effort. Conservation and management measures have been put in place in many countries, including habitat improvement, export bans, catch quotas and restricted fishing seasons. The overall effect of these efforts on stocks is still unknown. Meanwhile, environmental influences, including climate change, are also thought to play a part in the declines. This particular confluence of conflicting socioeconomic and conservation imperatives is not unique to eels and shares similarities with many exploited species, both of other fish and wildlife. As such, eels provide an example subject for examining the ecological, economic and social dynamics influencing the conservation of many threatened species. This study collected data through global databases of eel fishing and trade as well as through anthropological field work in two eel fishing countries. These quantitative and qualitative data form the basis for analyses of eel fisheries under four main areas: 1) Creation of conceptual SES framework that represents the interconnectedness between eel SESs involved and factors influencing trends in trade. This includes comparison of major data sources that currently influence international policy-making. 2) Relative effectiveness of governance in the glass eel fisheries in the case study areas. 3) Motivations and behaviour of eel fishers and how they are relevant to management and conservation. 4) Differences in valuation of eel between stakeholders and implications of these differences to coordinated conservation decision-making.