An inspection by the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, Customs and the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten on a ship from the Dominican Republic revealed more than 25 crates containing approximately 66 live eels.
Without an import permit or specific species identification, the documents presented were found to be fraudulent. CODOPESCA, the Dominican fisheries authority, confirmed that the fish were American eels (Anguilla rostrata), a critically endangered species. The day after the seizure, CODOPESCA experts joined the team to confiscate the eels and associated equipment. The fish, weighing 9,48 kg, were temporarily taken into the care of the Nature Foundation before being returned to the Dominican Republic, where they will be released into their natural habitat.
The trafficking highlights a growing problem: the growing demand for American eel, driven by the scarcity of European and Japanese species, is making it a target for the black market in East Asia. Valued at up to $37000, these eels are often illegally caught in Hispaniola before being transported via routes such as St. Martin. Despite the release of the eight crew members without prosecution, authorities are stressing the urgent need to strengthen local regulations and controls. The community is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the Coast Guard or the Nature Foundation to combat this trafficking of protected species. _VX
https://faxinfo.fr/en/environnement-trafic-danguilles-menacee-une-saisie-record-a-philipsburg/
