May 24, 2013 — A tiny eel that sells for nearly $2,000 a pound has created a stir in New Jersey. An Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted three Maine fishermen in connection with illegally trapping thousands of undersized American Eels in Absecon, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
On May 16, Dale Witham, 55, of Medomak, Robert Royce, 63, of West Rockport, and Neal Kennedy, 53, of Thomaston, were indicted for conspiracy, criminal trespassing and the unlawful possession of wildlife for the purpose of sale (N.J.S.A. 23:4-27).
On March 13, the defendants were arrested by members of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Fish & Wildlife.
The price of the baby American Eel, also known as the glass eel or elver, has fluctuated over the past decade, dropping as low a $25 a pound at one point, according to Boston.com. But following a 2010 European moratorium on exporting eels and a depleted Japanese stock that was aggravated by the 2011 tsunami, prices took off last year to meet Asia’s voracious appetite for eel. Last spring, eels were going for $2,600 a pound.
Read the full story at the New Jersey Newsroom