Foreign Fishery Developments prices for U. S. eels have not changed much from 1976. This price range, however, is for the American eel and the Australian eel, Anguilla australis. Recent ex-vessel prices in Denmark and Italy for the preferred European eel The Market for Eels in the suggest an average range of from $2.00 Federal Republic of Germany to $2.75 per pound. In addition, among the 20 countries which exported fresh or refrigerated eels to the FRG in 1976, the average ex-vessel price for U.S. eels ranked 16th, with only New Zea­ INTRODUCTION eel fishery in the Baltic has been declin­ land, Turkish, Canadian, and Austra­ The Federal Republic of Germany ing since the late 1960's. The Food and lian eels selling for lower average (FRG) has traditionally been the largest Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the prices. European market for the European eel, United Nations gives the following Anguilla anguilla, and has depended figures for the FRG's eel catch (in met­ IMPORTS heavily on imports from northern Euro­ ric tons) in the North Sea and the Baltic pean suppliers, chiefly Denmark. In re­ from 1970: FRG eel imports have recently in­ cent years, though, static eel produc­ creased somewhat, and in the last 4 tion in the Baltic Sea has permitted FRG eel catch in the North and years they have slightly exceeded 5,000 Baltic Seas. Canada, the United States, and New Year Catch Year Catch t annually. Since most of the eels are 1970 SOOt 1973 400 smoked, and the German processors Zealand to increase their exports of 1971 500 1974 351 other eel varieties to the FRG to meet 1972 400 1975 382 prefer live eels for that purpose, ap­ rising demand. proximately 85 percent of the imported The U.S. share of eel exports to the eels are live or refrigerated rather than CONSUMPTION AND PRICES FRG increased to 8.5 percent of the frozen. It is interesting to point out, total in 1976, and although the volume West Germany is the largest market however, that over half of the U. S. eel was still under 400 metric tons, the in Europe for eels and domestic con­ exports to the FRG consist of frozen value was over $1 million. Despite the sumption is estimated at about 6,000 t eels. intricacies and strict quality require­ annually. Moderate increases in future Figures for 1976 show that imports ments ofthe international eel trade, cur­ eel consumption are probable. Most of accounted for nearly 75 percent of the rent projections point to rising U.S. the eels consumed in the FRG, esti­ FRG's total eel supply. More than half sales of the American eel, Anguilla ros­ mated at from 80 to over 90 percent, are of these imports originated from coun­ trata, to the FRG and other European smoked, with the large part of the rest tries which supply Baltic eels, for countries in the years ahead. processed into jellied eels. which there is a pronounced preference Eel prices in the FRG vary widely in the FRG. Denmark, which provided DOMESTIC PRODUCTION according to the type of eel, quality, about 40 percent of the FRG's eel im­ Figures on eel production are impre­ and weight. Generally, they tend to be ports, has been the traditional leader, cise in most countries, and the FRG is highest in November and December, followed by the Netherlands, New Zea­ no exception. The FRG eel catch from resulting from high Christmas season land, Canada, the United States, Po­ inland rivers, lakes, and ponds has been demand, and lowest in the summer and land, and Sweden. estimated at about 1,000 t annually for fall months. Prices at the retail level for The difference in average prices paid some years. The number of sport smoked eels are about $8 .00 per pound, to eel suppliers in 1976 was consider­ fishermen has increased, though, in re­ but these are normally the highest qual­ able (Table I). The favorite Baltic eels cent years, and since their catches are ity eels, fairly large in size and with were delivered at ex-vessel prices not registered, the above figure is at above-average fat content. which were up to three times greater best only a rough estimate. On the other At the ex-vessel level, prices are than the less-favored Australian eels hand, the FRG's catch of marine eels much more difficult to determine, from New Zealand. has declined. The marine eels are mainly because they differ so much ac­ QUALITY RESTRICTIONS caught by fishermen operating trawlers cording to the various types of eels im­ in the estuaries ofrivers flowing into the ported into the FRG. The average ex­ Sources in the industry emphasize North and Baltic Seas. Although there vessel price for eels imported from the the complicated nature of the interna­ was some increase in the North Sea eel United States in 1976 was $1.55 per tional eel trade, especially as regards catch after the middle 1960's when pound for fresh or refrigerated eels, and the stringent requirements for certain trawlers began to be used, this fishery $1 . 10 per pound for frozen eels. Ac­ quality characteristics. In the FRG, has probably stabilized recently. The cording to German sources, current where most of the eels are smoked, the 34 Marine Fisheries Review Table 1.-West German eel Imports, 1976. Those eels which are used for cooking producing countries are Denmark and Imports Value Avg. Price or frying rather than smoking are refer­ France. followed by the Netherlands, (t) (1.000 OM') (OM/kg') Country 01 origin red to as "green" eels and they should West Germany. and Ital y. European Fresh or refrigerated be large, usually no less than I pound, supplies have been supplemented in­ France 108.3 1.336 12.34 while those over 2 pounds are prefer­ creasingly in recent years by imports Belgium/Lux- 94.4 1.154 12.22 embourg red. For smoking purposes the very from the United States, New Zealand, Netherlands 409.4 5.055 12.35 Italy 121.1 1.460 12.22 large eels are not in great demand be­ and Japan. The major marketing cen­ Great Britain 29.9 334 11.17 cause the retail price would be prohibi­ ters for the European eel trade are Ireland 370 369 997 Denmark 2.170.4 27.720 12.77 tive. Therefore. the weight classes of Hamburg, Copenhagen, the Ijsselmeer Sweden 216.9 2.609 12.83 0.5-1 pound and 1-2 pounds are pre­ region in the Netherlands, and Milan. Austrua 26.3 246 9.35 Spain 15.7 230 14.65 ferred. European supplies appear to have Greece 36.1 462 13.35 The bulk of eels are marketed live in stabilized and, therefore, the market Turkey 16.5 141 7.62 Poland 399.4 4.961 12.42 the FRG. Dealers and processors are should require increasing imports in fu­ Hungary 267 266 10.41 Tunisia 11.2 162 14.46 somewhat reluctant to accept frozen ture years. In the Baltic Sea there is United Siales 179.9 1,551 662 eels. Occasionally eels which were not little doubt that the eel stock has been Canada 169.5 1.153 6.60 Australia 94.4 675 7.15 promptly sold were frozen after they declining since the early 1960's; simi­ New Zealand 2321 906 3.91 had begun to deteriorate and small­ lar! y, there is evidence that French, Tolal 14,419.9 51.193 scale smokers were unable to handle Italian, and Spanish eel catches in the Frozen them properly. Live eels have been Mediterranean Sea are also decreasing. Nelherlands 623 334 5.36 Denmark 19.5 216 11.18 flown from the United States to West On the other hand, there is reason to Greece 46.9 606 12.39 Turkey 22.6 166 7.35 Germany in flat waxed cartons. lined believe that French and Spanish catches Uniled States 197.1 1.206 6.13 with plastic foil and covered with a in the Atlantic Ocean may be increasing Canada 2567 1,559 603 P.A. China 22.5 121 5.36 small amount of crushed ice, which, somewhat. Figures collected by the Australia 597 437 7.32 through slow thaw, keep the eels wet. FAO put Europe's annual eel produc­ New Zealand 75.7 303 4.00 Frozen eels are usually shipped by tion between 1970 and 1975 in a narrow Total 771.1 4.999 ocean freighters in waxed cardboard range of 19,000-20,000 t, except for 'CIF German seaport or border (excluding import duty). 2The average conversion rate in 1976 was boxes usually containing about 50 1972 when it dropped to only 17,300 t. US$1.00 ~ DM2.53. The lale-1977 rale was approximately pounds of eels. Within each box, smal­ It should be kept in mind, however, that US$1.00 - DM2.35. ler blocks of frozen eels are usually all of these statistics are somewhat un­ wrapped in plastic foil bags. reliable. In general, industry sources tended At a 1976 international conference in most important quality characteristic is to place American eels in the category Helsinki on eel aquaculture and exploi­ the fat content. The minimum fat con­ of second grade quality for which the tation, it was suggested that practically tent for smoking is apparently 12 per­ market in the FRG is necessarily lim­ all of the wild eels in European waters cent, although there are reports of eels ited.