Eels, Fresh or Chilled (Anguilla spp.)

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is listed on CITES Appendix II, requiring a valid CITES export permit from the exporting country and review by the US Fish & Wildlife Service at import. Other Anguilla species, such as A. japonica (Japanese eel) and A. rostrata (American eel), are not currently on CITES Appendix II, though their conservation status is monitored. Importers should confirm the species identity of each shipment and check current CITES listings before import.

Japan's presence as a leading US supplier likely reflects re-export or transshipment of processed or live eel product through Japanese trade channels, as well as direct exports of Japanese-farmed A. japonica to US Japanese-cuisine restaurants. The high value placed on fresh eel in Japanese culinary tradition drives sophisticated cold-chain logistics that make Japan a reliable source for premium US foodservice buyers.