Japan’s Aeon to Tighten Rules on Sale of Eels

June 19, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese retail giant Aeon Co.  said Monday that it will tighten rules on the sale of Japanese eels as part of efforts to protect the endangered species.

Aeon will deal only in Japanese eels fully traceable across the supply chain, including producers and distributors, aiming to shift to such a procurement system by 2023.

Amid a shortage of Japanese eels, the retailer will also increase sales of alternative products, such as eels from Indonesia and catfish, in the lead-up to the midsummer Days of the Ox, when grilled eel demand spikes in Japan.

Eels used in traditional cuisine are chiefly caught when they are young and reared in ponds. But it is often unclear how such elvers are captured and distributed.

Meanwhile, overfishing has led to a decrease in catches.

The company hopes that the measures will help curb the overfishing and promote sustainable procurement of eels, officials said.

Aeon also plans to increase sales of Indonesian eels, which are more abundant than Japanese eels. It aims to secure the sustainability of Indonesian eel resources by supporting responsible aquaculture in cooperation with a local company and other partners.

Considering recent increases in grilled eel prices, the company hopes to boost sales of lower-priced alternative products using catfish, mackerel and pork, the officials said. Jiji Press