Listed as endangered species, some 400,000 glass eels seized at Brussels Airport in Zaventem last month have been released back into the water in Flanders.
Last month, six people were arrested at Brussels Airport as they were caught trying to smuggle 140 kg of glass eels, which are popular among Asian consumers, to Malaysia via Qatar and Vietnam.
After the animals were seized, they were held in temporary quarantine by the agency to make sure they were European eels and that the animals were not infected with viruses or diseases. On Wednesday, the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests released them in various watercourses in the region.
The high prices on the black market make this species extremely vulnerable to illegal trade. Credit: Vilda
Glass eels are endangered species that cannot be traded without the necessary certificates. High black market prices make this species extremely vulnerable to illegal trade. The seized eels had a total market value of €400,000.
The European eel population has fallen by 90% in just a few decades, meaning the release of such a large number of animals is considered a big success.
Related News
- Endangered Asian cheetahs: Last cub has died in Iran
- Six people arrested at Brussels Airport for smuggling endangered species
The maximum penalty for smuggling endangered species is five years in prison. Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir stressed how important it is to put pressure on illegal traders.
"This shows that there is indeed a chance of being caught with firm consequences," she concluded.
