Canada Misses Opportunity to Help Advance Eel Conservation
November 27, 2025
SAMARKAND—Oceans North is disappointed that Canada and other countries rejected new rules that would have improved the sustainability of the American eel fishery and helped conserve eel species globally.
At a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) today, a majority of members voted against regulations proposed by the European Union and Panama to list the American eel and other eel species on Appendix II, which would have improved traceability standards and made it harder for illegal eel fishers and smugglers to sell their product. While the ballot was secret—an unusual step, indicating the significant pressure being placed on some countries—Canada spoke against the proposal.
“There are serious concerns about the health of American eel populations here in Canada, and unreported, unregulated fishing is a significant threat,” says Katie Schleit, Oceans North’s Fisheries Director. “Canada is also an important link in the global illegal eel trade. We had an opportunity to demonstrate our country was serious about tackling wildlife crime and improving the sustainability of our fisheries, and we didn’t take it.”
“We had an opportunity to demonstrate our country was serious about tackling wildlife crime and improving the sustainability of our fisheries, and we didn’t take it.”
– Katie Schleit, Oceans North’s Fisheries Director
Much of the global trade in eels is for glass eels, also known as elvers: these are eels early in their lifecycle, which are caught live in the wild and then exported to aquaculture facilities where they are grown to full size. While population estimates vary, four out of five of the most commonly traded species (including American eel) are considered either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The European eel is already listed under CITES Appendix II. But because eel species are difficult to distinguish from one another, it is easy for smugglers to pass off European eels as a different, unregulated species. Listing other eel species would have closed this loophole while increasing traceability through the use of export permits and other measures, which would help stop illegal harvesting of both European eel and other species, including American eel.
On a more positive note, while the proposal to list eels did not pass, countries did agree on a non-binding resolution to improve data-gathering and conservation of eels globally. “With the American eel under consideration for listing under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, we need concrete action fast,” Schleit says. “We look forward to working with the government and harvesters to improve conservation of eel species here and around the world.”
For more information, please contact:
Elisabeth Hadjis
Communications Specialist
Oceans North
[email protected]