December 2018
Most of the fishing areas in France are now open. The prospects for the season look good. Some of our fishermen have by the end of the next tide will have used all their consumption quota. The start of the season is not dissimilar to 2013/14 with some exceptional individual catches per boat. Prices at the start of this season are less than last season and show signs of moving downwards. It is difficult to estimate the total catch but based on our percentage catch in previous years the total catch today is already 3000 kilos.
The market in Asia is now gaining momentum. Some AA has already been stopped in Hong Kong airport and the total import is estimated to be at least 600 kilos. Price is 1500 euros per kilo based on account of 3000 and 3.88 rmb per piece. It is early days however there is no evidence that any new measures to control illegal exports are any more effective than last year. The gendarmerie are conspicuous by their absence. We have not had one control over the last six weeks.
A. Japonica
Some glass eels are now appearing in Taiwan but not sufficient quantity to set a price.
A. Rostrata
Production from the Caribbean is a good as last year. Perhaps a total of 5000 kilos so far. The price has slipped a little from a high of 7200 USD to 5600 USD. Most of the stocks are from Haiti with 10% coming from Dominican Republic and Cuba. This is an extraordinary state of affairs as historically glass eel prices from the Caribbean have been significantly lower than those from the US and Canada.
Sustainable Eel Group
The SEG program is proving hard to introduce into France. We have a small nucleus of fishermen who are nervous of fishing to the SEG standard because of the pressure exerted on them by the Comité de Peche. It is great pity because these are fishermen who are fortunate enough because of their location and the type of boats they are using are able to the meet the standard with some minor operational and cultural adjustments. For others it is certainly more difficult.
Llangorse.
We are continuing to support the Llangorse restocking project. The monitoring of the silver eel escapement is proving very challenging. We have stocked some 300,000 juveniles and not caught one eel so far.
It is not surprising that it has proved impossible to make an assessment of the total European eel stock. The pike in this picture, before it slipped to freedom, ate all the fish in our trap and these out of situ cormorants are also more than likely having a feast too.
Lastly, Happy Christmas from all of us here at UK Glass Eels!
