European eel

Anguilla anguilla

5: Avoid How we work out the ratings

What to check for

Location

All Areas

Production method

Closed system, RAS

Rating summary

European eel is not farmed like other aquaculture species, the process comprises of catching of juvenile eels from the wild and growing them in captivity. This form of aquaculture is called on-growing or ranching. European eel is assessed as Critically Endangered in the wild by the IUCN and is a Red List species. Eel ranching contributes to depletion of endangered wild stocks, it does not provide an alternative to reducing pressure on wild stocks. Eel need high protein diets, including fishmeal and fish oil which cannot be assured as being sourced from a sustainable supply.Rating last updated January 2023.

Technical consultation summary

European eel is not farmed like other aquaculture species, the process comprises of catching of juvenile eels from the wild and growing them in captivity. This form of aquaculture is called on-growing or ranching. European eel is assessed as Critically Endangered in the wild by the IUCN and is a Red List species. Eel ranching contributes to depletion of endangered wild stocks, it does not provide an alternative to reducing pressure on wild stocks. Eel need high protein diets, including fishmeal and fish oil which cannot be assured as being sourced from a sustainable supply.

References

Sustainable swaps

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European eel
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