2025-09-01
TUSCANY / NARITA – Multi-billion-euro black market in European eels is one of the world’s most lucrative and sophisticated environmental crimes — and it starts in Europe. Smuggled by organised crime groups to Asia via third countries, the trade is pushing the species to the brink of extinction within a decade.
One of the largest illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing networks begins in Europe, with the European eel. Considered to be the most sophisticated environmental crime, the industry boasts $2.5 billion in annual revenues, with 25% of European eels being smuggled into Asia every year. Supported by the world’s biggest criminal networks, this black market may make the European eel extinct in a decade.
Although sales of European eel are illegal outside of the EU, the fish are “laundered” via third-countries. Until now, there is scant reporting on how criminal networks work and what happens once the eels leave Europe. This transnational investigation used a systemic, data-driven approach and confidential sources to shed light on the smuggling route.
On the right: Image by Toru Hanai.
Mentor
Supported
€27,000 allocated on 27/02/2025ID
ENV1/2025/638Grant
ONLINE
- Anguilla connection. Traffici, clan (e chi resiste), Il Fatto Quotidiano, August 2025
- Inside the illegal eel trade: is there a way to stop Europe’s biggest wildlife crime before it’s too late, The Guardian, 22/10/2025
- Anguilla connection. Traffici, clan (e chi resiste), Il Milllenmium, num. 93, agosto 2025
- Predoni di anguille, La Via Libera, n. 34 2025, pp. 55-57
- Le anguille a rischio estinzione fra bracconieri e mercato illegale, La Nuova Ferrara, 01/11/2025, p. 28-29L
FOLLOW UP
- From African rivers to Asian plates: The global eel crisis, 23/11/2025
- Illegal Eel Trafficking Is Europe's Largest Wildlife Crime, Talty's Ocean Dispatch
- This investigation will be presented at the World Conference for Science Journalists 2025.
COUNTRIES
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- East Asia
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- Data Journalism
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