Fearing that its national dish, unagi eel rice, is in trouble, Japan reacts to Europe

Sợ cơm lươn unagi quốc hồn quốc túy gặp khó, Nhật Bản phản ứng với châu Âu - Ảnh 1. — Eels are consumed worldwide , but are particularly popular in Japan - where they are known as "unagi" and are often grilled and covered in a sweet sauce - Photo: AFP

If adopted at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, also known as the Washington Convention) in Uzbekistan later this year , the proposal would require proof of legal fishing and export permits issued by the exporting country for species such as Japanese eel and other eels, according to Japan News.

To be adopted, the proposal needs a two-thirds majority at the conference. Normally, proposals come into force about three months after they are approved. However, this time the EU is proposing to delay the implementation for 18 months.

EU proposes global eel export restrictions

Related sources revealed that Japan plans to coordinate with China - a country on which Japan depends heavily for eel imports - and South Korea to oppose this proposal.

Previously, from June 19 to 20, the three countries and Taiwan held informal discussions in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, to agree on how to respond.

Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi protested at a press conference in Tokyo the same day: "We have enough Japanese eels, and there is no risk of extinction. The move from the EU is extremely regrettable."

lươn - Ảnh 2. — Freshly caught eels in Aichi Prefecture. Japan is the world's largest consumer of eels - Photo: Yuki Nakao

While the EU says Japanese eel numbers have declined sharply, Japan says eel populations have recovered since the 1990s and advances in aquaculture have reduced the need for juvenile eels (also known as young eels, which are used for farming).

Japan also warned that the new regulations could push up the price of baby eels, increasing the risk of illegal fishing and smuggling.

Under CITES, species listed in Appendix I are banned from international commercial trade, while species listed in Appendix II are those that may face extinction if trade is not strictly regulated.

Sợ cơm lươn unagi quốc hồn quốc túy gặp khó, Nhật Bản phản ứng với châu Âu - Ảnh 3. — Bring the signature summer flavors of Japanese cuisine to your kitchen with Unagi Don - a simple yet delicious grilled eel rice dish. This dish consists of white rice served with fragrant grilled eel fillet, drizzled with rich homemade unagi sauce - Photo: Japan Centre

The EU is currently pushing for the inclusion of all 19 species and subspecies of eel – including Japanese eel, American eel and Southeast Asian eel Anguilla bicolor – in Appendix II. This would apply not only to live glass eel but also to processed eel products, such as “kabayaki”, a grilled eel dish popular in Japan.

European eels have been subject to trade restrictions since the EU successfully listed the species on Appendix II of CITES in 2007.

In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the Japanese eel as "vulnerable", citing habitat loss, overharvesting, pollution and barriers to migration.

Protecting this species is further complicated by its unpredictable life cycle and large geographic distribution, along with much that remains unknown about its reproduction.