Development of Stock Assessment Methods and Strengthening of Resources Management Measures for Tropical Anguillid Eel in Southeast Asia

Global demand of anguillid eel is increasing both for consumption and trade. However, appropriate conservation and management of eel species remains as main issues to be addressed globally and within the region. At this juncture, restriction on exporting the tropical anguillid eels at a certain size has been implemented only in two (2) ASEAN Member States (AMS), i.e., Indonesia and the Philippines, despite the fact that the region is home to several species. Inadequate management of resources may result in scarcity that can lead to measures on export ban as applied to European eel species.¹ Hence, continued cooperation and coordination within AMS to establish effective resource management for the species is crucial.

It is against this context that an initiative supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) started –Enhancing Sustainable Utilization and Management Scheme of Tropical Anguillid Eel Resources in Southeast Asia. Implemented from 2017 to 2019, the project conducted the surveys to collect basic eel fishery data in selected AMS and the researches to improve survival rate of juvenile eels in aquaculture practices, which culminated in the development of policy recommendations and guidelines to assist AMS in initiating and improving eel resource management practices. However, as informed by this project’s implementation and the recommendations outlined in the final report, further work still needs to be done.