At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Japanese eel is a migratory fish central to East Asian cuisine, with a life cycle spanning the open Pacific and Asia's rivers. It is assessed as Endangered.
Wild populations have declined sharply.
Range & habitat
Rivers and coasts of East Asia, spawning far out in the western Pacific.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing of young eels
- Barriers such as dams
- Habitat loss and ocean change
Why it matters
A culturally and commercially important eel now in decline, the Japanese eel links the health of the open ocean, rivers, and fisheries across East Asia.
Sources
Sources for Japanese Eel
- IUCN Red List — look up Japanese Eel (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Japanese eel breed?
It spawns far out in the western Pacific near the Mariana Islands; the tiny larvae drift to East Asia, grow in rivers and coasts, then return to the ocean to breed.
Why is the Japanese eel Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing of young eels, barriers such as dams, and habitat loss and ocean change. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: