Experts push conservation of endangered eels

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Two foreign zoologists are pushing for conservation of the endangered eels endemic in freshwater areas in Cagayan.

Dr. Matthew Gollock of the Zoology Society of London and Dr. Joyce Wu of the Traffic East Taiwan said the government must come up with immediate and long-term measures for the conservation of eels in Cagayan and other parts of northern Luzon.

This, they said, came amid international research that the eels, particularly the Anguillid species, are now endangered as their population continues to dwindle.

Anguillid is a species of elver or baby eel found in the fresh and brackish waters of northern Philippines.

“Just like the Philippines now, European countries have also faced the same threats in the production of the Angullid eel because of so many factors, including over-gathering of the eel’s fry and exporting them to other countries,” Gollock said.

Wu said most of the local eel species are exported to Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. 

The exports reportedly started in 2002, resulting in the eel population’s decline in the country.

The Cagayan species, believed to have vast medical significance, is also a rising export to the United States, according to reports. 

Baby eels or elvers are a favorite delicacy in Asian cuisine, especially Chinese and Korean, as they are believed to have aphrodisiac properties.

The price of baby eels, or eel fry, has skyrocketed from P2,500 per kilo two years ago to at least P15,000 a kilo, encouraging more residents to gather them.

A full-grown eel, locally known as igat, dalara or siging among Ibanags, costs at least P1,000. However, full-grown eels are now becoming rare, as fishermen opt to catch them in their baby stage due to their high market value in Asian markets.

Besides over-gathering, experts said the decline in the eels’ population was also due to climate change, parasitism, pollution of rivers, and barriers to fish migrations.   

Dr. Jovita Ayson, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said they would further strengthen their monitoring, ban the export of elver eels, and craft conservation measures. 

“It is really important to have partnership with foreign researchers for us to establish our conservation and protection plan to ensure that the next generation will be able to taste the elver eel species,” she said.