DA urges eel industry players to consolidate

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging players in the eel industry to consolidate their resources to compete in the lucrative export market for the high-value aquaculture product.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala met recently with eel producers to discuss initiatives for the development of the glass eel industry in the country amid shrinking supply of the population of Anguilla Japonica, the preferred eel specie in Japan and South Korea.

Because of the shortage of the japonica eel specie, Japan and South Korea are looking at tropical eel as substitute. Demand for eel, Alcala said, is likewise strong in China.

Alcala said many local glass eel growers could raise eels all-year-round but are not able to export to these countries because of the large volume needed. Indonesia, on the other hand, is a strong exporter.

Alcala therefore is urging eel growers to form associations to meet the required volume for export.

The Agriculture chief has instructed Fisheries director Asis Perez to assign a point person in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to oversee the formation of an organization of eel growers.

Perez said the BFAR  plans to conduct forums for the promotion of eel as a protein source.

“We have conducted forums and congresses per commodity, for example on tuna, shrimp and milkfish, so we can do a similar activity for eel to set the direction of the industry,” he said.

“We should take full advantage of this biological resource,” added Perez.

Alcala said further research and development programs are needed for the eel industry as well as a business roadmap.

“It is good that scientific studies were already conducted, but we have to look also on the policy and business side. We need to have a comprehensive study on the industry,” he said.

In December, Alcala met with Taiwanese and Japanese food processors in Taipei to encourage them to invest in eel production in the country because of increased eel population in Philippine waters as a result of an export ban on elvers (juvenile eel)  implemented two years ago.

In the Philippines, eel is particularly abundant in Cagayan.

Eel is a resilient specie, making it feasible for large-scale processing.

Eel is enjoyed in various Asian countries as a delicacy. Smoked eel fillets, for instance, sell for P500 to P1,000 per 100 grams in Japanese restaurants.