The Dutch Eel Company concentrate on eels only and we are in the eel trade in the U.K. for more then 18 years the last 8 years we hot smoke eel and supply famous restaurants.
We only use fish from sustainable fisheries (go to
www.visserijbedrijfklop.nl)or aquaculture eels as we all know eels are studied over the last years because of the decline.
Fortunately Brussels and the Dutch Government agreed with all the fishers and traders to restock the waters and open the build in water ways (done by Government) so the eel can move away for spawning which they do in the Saragossa Sea.
We always used thankfully, not only the best but also eels from sustainable sourced eel fishing (in the U.K. eel fishing is next to nothing) and because we are both Dutch and brought up in the fishing trade we automatically used our best knowledge by using responsible fishers and eel traders from Holland.
We also know and this is appreciated by a lot of Chefs, the DUTCH EEL is the best to smoke : nice, firm and juicy.
We always use wood chippings special imported from woodland which is replanted and special grown to smoke fish, we import this from Holland again!
Holland in the end is the biggest country if it comes to smoke the eel and we just brought our skills to England.
They are hot smoked in special brine (we like to keep some secrets) also the temperature and the time in the oven is our top secret.
But therefore we do deliver this excellent product and to end my story the eel is not in danger of extinction because matters were taken up by different agencies and goverments luckely in time.
Solution and agreements are set out in Brussels they are accepted obediently by every fisher and trader like us to keep this excellent product on the menu.
Reaction to article in papers
Great Carlton 14-01 2011
Dear Sir or Madam,
Here is the information concerning EEL :
We are in the trade for more than 18 years in England with live eels and the last 8 years also in smoked eels. We are both Dutch and brought up in the fish trade, before we moved to Lincolnshire we traded in eels for a Dutch firm.
Therefore we are closely watching and reviewing the situation surrounding eels.
The eel is definitely not endangering, yes they were in decline, luckily eel fishers / traders made the government in Holland and Brussels aware of this (2009). By tackling this problem together and in time it did not become endanger us, the eel is already making a recovery, if records are kept soon M.S.C. shall have to carry this too
The E.U. has decided eel fishing in Holland is not allowed during the silver season(the silver eel spawn) which everybody will agree to. The eel needs to spawn and therefore need to move to their area to do so. All the fishermen & merchants in Holland agree with this and will obey this dissension, no fishing in September October & November. For the same reason fishing is banned in the Republic of Ireland. The North of Ireland and England are still allowed to fish, mind you as being the only eel merchant in the U.K. we can tell you there are not many fisherman in this country compare to this profession in Holland.
We also know that the Fishermen in Holland do everything in their power to sustain the population of the eels, they fish with approved nets: smaller eels can escape, they do this since the 80s since 4 years they also restock their waters, investing a lot in this and in research. The government is aware of the problem and open the waterways and stop pumping during silver season and in spring when elvers (baby eels) come back to there natural habitat.
The other problem what needed attention was the elver fishing 1 kilo of baby eels will become 7 tonnes + grown up eels the prices offered for elvers is around £ 600 @ kilo trawlers down the cost of Spain an Portugal are on a quote now. Farms need baby eels to produce but China went over the top and offered ridiculous prices to the trawler men this is all closely viewed since France sold 14 tonnes officially, rumours are 20 tonnes last February. This proofs the eel is there the strategy is working (today the decision is announced if France is allowed to export 8 tonnes to China and we hope not) but eels are on the way back.
We as the Dutch Eel company will keep on monitoring the situation and keep you up to date.
We can tell you the eel is not on the black list and because of that we can trade in them. Also preventing is better than being sorry, this is the thought behind it all and the E.U. is taking matters in hand before it’s gone to far, if everything is monitored in time and action is taken with controlled fishing etc. the eel will always be there and that’s what we all want.
At the moment, because eel is our livelihood and we are so weaved into the situation we were prepared; we do hold quite a stock and because of that we can supply you with the quality you are so used to. There are also good quality farmed eels and we can always use outside farmed eels (agriculture). The sciences are doing everything to crack the mystery of the eel and the spawning in the Saragossa Sea we are confident in near future this problem will be solved as well.
The eel we smoke is from sustainable fisheries in Holland we use Firma Klop (
www.visserijbedrijfklop.nl) use your translate tool to convert in to English.
We also use outside Italian farmed eel because they are farmed in a natural habitat. Meaning they are farmed for more then 7 years before they are entering the market and not like most farms 9 month to 1 year (anguilla anguilla) if we use an other eel farm it is for the anguilla rostrata which again is a better environment and approved E.U. methods.
The reason eel is not on the MSC list is very simple nobody ever kept an accurate record and counted the catch this is now changed by law but it will take about 5 years before MSC will accept the list that is just unfortunate, again there is no eel trade ban and definitely no eel stop.
You can also go to
www.minnlv.nl use your translate tool and go to eel restore plan
Hope this information will support you when questioned about eels, and therefore we hope you will keep on using eel on your menu.
Yours Faithfully, Willem & Corine Rozendaal Dutch Eel Company Ltd.