Anguilla japonica

Rob Spray Species number 4 - The European or Common Eel - Quite a life story!

David Kipling I'm currently reviewing a paper on the ethnography of jellied eel consumption. Is this the same species used for that delicacy?

Rob Spray As far as any commercial fish is properly ID'd yes

David Kipling Cheers. I know In Japan hey distinguish between freshwater eel (unagi) and sea eel (anago).

Rob Spray The 'thing' about Anguilla anguilla is that is has those 7 key stages and distinct common 'names' for the visible ones means confusion abounds. These are the eels that are trapped in rivers.

Rob Spray http://www.information-britain.co.uk/food/foodlegends/Jellied%20Eels

Jon Chamberlain This may not help with the discussion of sustainable eel populations but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AckvdGbk4w

David Kipling Anago is Conger (they farm them in plastic tubing) and unagi is Anguilla japonica apparently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unagi