Eel farming cannot exist without getting wild young stages (glass-eels or elvers) coming
from the sea. The eels grow quite slowly and require temperature higher than 18 ° e. For this
reason, Italy was the main producer for a long time. This thermal requirement precluded eel
farming from Northern Europe until efficient and cost-effective water circulating systems
were developed by Denmark and the Netherlands and provided very intensive operations.
In the last decade, EU eel aquaculture has increased from 5,300 to some 8,000 tons,
representing a 50% increase. The main producing countries are now Denmark and the
Netherlands. Some other farming also emerge in southern countries. Intra-EU market seems
saturated (10, 000 - 11,000 t) and the whole flows mainly concerns live eels. However, the
trade of eel combines aquacultured and wild eels and also different species, which is
difficult to track to match a higher potential demand at European scale which is estimated at
about 26-27,000 t. The development of Far East aquaculture and its boost in the late 1990 s
precipitated considerable concern within the EU production sector for supplies of Anguilla
anguilla glass eels. Indeed, all trends of eel recruits are declining and serious threats can be
expected, which could impede a continuing profitability of aquaculture. Such a situation is
discussed and we call for a new cooperation to associate all eel stakeholders worldwide.