A tonne of glass eels, the young elvers that swim into European estuaries from the Sargasso Sea each spring, was flown to Kaliningrad this year, double the amount exported to the Russian port the previous year.
Eel industry sources have told the Guardian that next year's application could increase to 5 tonnes. One tonne of European glass eels amounts to about 3 million fish.
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a protected, red-listed species, with the number of elvers migrating into European rivers having declined by 95% since the 1980s.
In 2010 the EU banned the trade of European eels outside their natural range in Europe. Since Brexit it has been impossible for the UK to export glass eels to EU countries. But a legal loophole makes it permissible to catch and export elvers to non-EU destinations in their natural European range if they are used for conservation purposes, such as restocking lakes or rivers.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Russia Accused Of Attacks On Food Ships Bound For Gaza
Keir Starmer has accused Vladimir Putin of disrupting food supplies to Gaza after British intelligence suggested Russia had stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian ports.
Tariffs Promoted By Trump Could Harm World Economy, Warns IMF
The International Monetary Fund has warned that trade tariffs favoured by the US presidential candidate Donald Trump could hurt global growth, as it upgraded its forecast for the UK economy.
Export Of Severn Eels To Russia Criticised As 'Bonkers'
Millions of critically endangered eels have been exported from the Severn estuary to Russia this year and conservationists fear export quotas will be increased next year.
'Shocking' Frustration and disbelief felt in Brixton
Distrust, disbelief and frustration is palpable on the streets around Electric Avenue.
Gascoigne accuses Fayed of 'horrific' sexual assault
Bianca Gascoigne has told how Mohamed AI Fayed subjected her to an alleged \"horrific\" sexual assault after she started working at Harrods as a 16-year-old.
Son of Singapore's first premier given asylum in UK after persecution claims
A senior member of the family that has dominated Singapore since independence in 1965 has been granted asylum in the UK after fleeing what he said was a campaign of persecution.
Liam Payne toxicology tests said to reveal 'pink cocaine'
The former One Direction singer Liam Payne had drugs including crack cocaine and methamphetamine in his system when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, according to anonymous Argentinian sources reportedly familiar with the initial toxicology reports.
Israel weighs use of private security contractors to deliver Gaza aid
Israel is weighing the use of private security contractors - possibly involving UK special forces veterans - to deliver aid to Gaza, as conditions in the north of the strip worsen dramatically, the Guardian has learned.
Borrowing at third highest on record for September
The Treasury has said it will need to take difficult decisions in next week's budget after higher debt interest payments and pay awards for public sector workers pushed government borrowing to £16.6bn last monththe third highest September figure on record.
Warner offers Test return for Australia
The former Australia opener David Warner has revealed he is ready to come out of Test retirement for the upcoming series against India.