Stable eel fry prices! The Ministry of Agriculture is striving to open the first-stage seedling quota for limited-time export in December

Agriculture Minister Chen Junji (right) and Fisheries Director Wang Maocheng both said that the initial seedling quota will be opened for a limited time export. (Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)

In recent years, the harvest of eel fry has been abundant. In order to better understand the fishing and circulation of eel fry, the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has promoted an eel fry traceability system. All operators who catch eel fry must register. The export of first-stage eel fry has been banned for a long time, leading to rampant smuggling. The Fisheries Department plans to launch an eel fry traceability system. DPP Legislator Zhong Jiabin is concerned about the timetable. Agriculture Minister Chen Junji said that the first phase of seedlings will be opened for export. Due to legal production, it is hoped that the first export will be opened in December, and the opening period is scheduled for November and December.

With the increase in eel fry production and the market share of Japan, the main eel export market, being seized by China, the Fisheries Department is striving to open up the domestic market. It has also promoted the eel fry traceability system and continued stocking declarations to make the eel production process and quantity more transparent. The Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan is reviewing the Ministry of Agriculture's 2027 annual budget. Zhong Jiabin was concerned about eel fry management during questioning. Regarding exports, including whether the eel fry traceability system promoted by the Fisheries Department is mandatory, and whether the export of eel fry has been banned for a long time, with the increase in eel fry production and eel price fluctuations, especially eel fry once dropped to only 3 to 5 yuan per tail, the domestic demand for eel fry is about 3 tons per year. After meeting domestic demand, eel fry can be exported to the Japanese market, which has a large demand.

Chen Junji pointed out that the domestic eel fry fishing period is from November to the end of February every year. In order to stabilize eel prices, the Fisheries Department has also promoted the domestic eel consumer market in recent years, including connecting with catering companies. As for the eel fry traceability system, it is expected to be fully implemented from December 1. Director of the Fisheries Department Wang Maocheng added that if the traceability is not cooperated, Mechanism, fines will be issued in accordance with the law, with fines ranging from 30,000 yuan to 120,000 yuan; the first-phase seedlings will also be open to quotas for export for a limited period. The current time for export is planned to be from November to the end of December. The quantity is because the eel seedlings are natural seedlings, and the quota is planned to adopt a floating system. The open part is still under legal production, and it is hoped that it can be opened in December.

Zhong Jiabin further questioned and pointed out that some of the kabayaki eels sold in the private sector were inspected and found to be American eels and European eels that are not commercially raised in China. The outside world suspected that they were illegally smuggling eels farmed in China. Some operators even accepted subsidies from the Fisheries Department to sell domestically produced eels. He believed that the Ministry of Agriculture should conduct a thorough investigation. Chen Junji said that in response to Some of the eel species submitted for inspection are not eel species farmed in Taiwan. Since the import of Chinese eels is prohibited in the country, the Food and Drug Administration and the Customs Administration have been asked to investigate and deal with them. If they are found to be illegally imported, they will be investigated and dealt with. For caterers who receive domestic eel subsidies, if it is traced that they are using non-domestic raw materials to pass them off, the subsidy will be recovered in accordance with the law.