Global Eel Protections Defeated Amid Economic Interests—At What Cost to America’s Ecosystems?

The recent defeat of vital international protections aimed at saving rapidly declining eel populations should raise red flags for every American concerned about national sovereignty and environmental stewardship. At a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Uzbekistan, member nations voted down proposed rules that would have tightened regulations on the trade of freshwater eels—a species critical to ecological balance and cultural traditions around the world. Why Are We Permitting This Decline? Freshwater eels, belonging to the genus Anguilla, are not only ancient survivors but also key indicators of river ecosystem health. Their steep declines—some species down...