THE EUROPEAN GLASS EEL 2/4

Even if most of the glass eels are still " lost " for the natural population of eels when they go into aquaculture (some restocking programs with fingerlings will return a few of them into the natural waters) , I consider this as an improvement compared to the misuse of fish fry for direct consumption in Spain.
If this could be " allowed " to a certain extend as a " tradition " when the resource was plentiful, it should now be severely reduced or even completely stopped now that the resource, according to every single person having considered this question, is threatened to disappear.

Together with the other huge threat - problem, named Anguillicola, the European eel is now an endangered specie, and restrictive measures on the catching and trading should be taken accordingly.

For China, about 80-100 tons of Anguilla anguilla glass eels, plus 30-50 tons of Anguilla japonica
For Europe, about 50-60 tons of Anguilla anguilla glass eels.
For Japan, 40 tons of Anguilla japonica
Some Anguilla rostrata could also be provided to the Chinese (and Korean) eel farmers, but their amount is negligible.

As the catching methods of glass eels in France are causing some damage to the fish, together with their " natural " mortality during the resting, there will always be bad quality batches on the market. These ones should be sent to the consumption market in Spain. Even if the Spanish consumers prefer the best quality, in order to have the fish survive long enough to develop their pigmentation before they are cooked.
For a total catch of 130-150 tons of glass eels, 90-100 tons would come from France. In order to obtain that quantity of good quality elvers, the fishermen would have to bring in 120-130 tons, which would provide 30-40 tons for the Spanish consumption market.
But the surimi of glass eels is taking over large parts of the real glass eel market, as they are much cheaper, found regularly in the shops, and very close in taste and consistence to the real product, angulas.

GLASSEEL
SURIMI :

MAYULAS

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