The Fifth Scientific Meeting on Japanese Eel and Other Relevant Eels Was Held in Yokohama

The Fifth Scientific Meeting on Japanese Eel and Other Relevant Eels was held in Yokohama, Japan, on June 25 and 26, 2026. Scientists and government representatives from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Chinese Taipei participated in the meeting and discussed scientific knowledge and research cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of the Japanese eel and other relevant eel species.

Professor Hiroshi Hakoyama, Dr. Takeru Kodama, and Dr. Huỳnh Quang Thiện from the Institute of Freshwater Biology participated in the meeting. They gave presentations and reports on eel stock indicators and scientific activities, the activities of the two task teams, species identification guidelines for glass eels, and the extinction risk and sustainable fisheries management of the Japanese eel.

Invited and emerging-science presentations were also given by Professor Alex Haro of the U.S. Geological Survey on eel passage and Professor Yu-San Han of National Taiwan University on environmental DNA-based assessment of eel resources.

At the meeting, the updated species identification guidelines for glass eels were adopted. The participants also agreed to continue considering scientific advice concerning upper limits for the initial input of glass eels into aquaculture ponds at future meetings.

The Scientific Meeting provides scientific consultation, cooperation, and advice on the conservation and management of the Japanese eel and other relevant eel species to the Informal Consultation on International Cooperation for Conservation and Management of Japanese Eel Stock and Other Relevant Eel Species.