International trade in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and CITES

In the Czech Republic, the eel (Anguilla anguilla), was an abundant species for a longtime. Nowadays the eel is threatened species due to the excessive fishing and the loss of migration routes. The individuals from the wild nature belong to one of the main sources of the trade in spite of the fact that the eel is registered on the list of CITES; Appendix II including species which are not instantly threated with extinction (33 % of 309 trades in 5 years). The number and the volume of trades was assessed based on data from CITES. Before including the eel on the CITES list, the registered individuals represented the most significant source of the majority of all trades (55 %). Registered individuals were followed by eels from the wild nature. The biggest part of trades was made by meat (38 %) which is very popular in spite of the high fat content. Living individuals, eel bodies, small leather goods and eel leather were traded also very well. Among the main purposes of the trade belong the commercial market (94 %), scientific and medical purpose as well as the captive breeding. The traded eel came mostly from France (21 % of trades), Korea, Great Britain and Morocco. For 20 % of trades the country of origin was unknown. The most exporting countries were: China (32 %), Mexico, Greece, Morocco and Denmark. Targets export markets were especially in USA (15 %), Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Canada