European eel trafficking reaches US$ 3 billion annually

The illegal trafficking of European eels is a multi-billion dollar industry, with peak revenues reaching up to US$ 3 billion. Driven by demand in Asian markets, particularly in China, South Korea, and Japan, the trade targets glass eels—the larval stage of the species—which can fetch prices as high as US$ 9,000 per kilogram due to the difficulty of breeding them in captivity.

The species is critically endangered, having seen a 95% population decline since the 1980s. While the European Union banned exports in 2010, organized crime groups have developed complex smuggling routes. Trafficking has shifted from central hubs like Madrid to routes traversing North Africa, including Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.

In recent efforts, Europol’s ‘Operation Lake’ resulted in the seizure of 22 tons of glass eels and 26 arrests between 2024 and 2025. Marine biologist Estibaliz Diaz notes that current glass eel volumes in the Bay of Biscay are only 12% of what they were before the 1980s, suggesting that combating trafficking and removing migratory barriers like hydroelectric dams are essential for survival.