As an unpleasant teenager, me and a group of equally unpleasant friends used to catch Eels for fun out of the River Stour. When trying to remove the hook, the Eel would wrap itself tightly around your arm, covering the sleeve of your jumper in thick slime.
The Eels fascinated me more than anything else we ever caught. We always put them back, watching as they slithered away.
Never would I have imagined that only a few decades later the European Eel would find itself listed as a critically endangered species. They are in serious trouble, so serious in fact that according to the IUCN Red List they are at real danger of extinction.
Farmed Eels
Unfortunately, farming Eels is not the solution either. In fact, it’s part of the problem. Eels cannot be bred in captivity. Therefore, farmed Eels are effectively kidnapped juvenile wild Eels. These Eels don’t even get the chance to breed.
Don’t eat Eels is the message here. Let’s give them a chance to recover. If you’re looking for something different to try, why not take a look at fresh Anchovies.
Read more on the latest Marine Conservation Society Good Fish Guide ratings.