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| Eel traders say prices set to soar |
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By: Dong Zhen(Shanghai Daily)
Mar 02,2008 |
THE price of baby eel netted at the mouth of the Yangtze River would skyrocket this year, despite expectations of a bumper harvest, fishing industry sources said.
Some industry insiders said the haul of baby eel by legal fishing operators this year would be about 10,000 tons, more than double than that of last year.
The price for mature eel on the local food market would rise slightly in the first half of the year due to its popularity, even though output increased, according to officials with local seafood industry association. Market price for each eel, which is transparent and about the size of a toothpick, is estimated to reach 8.5 yuan (US$1.20) this year.
A local fishing company in Nanhui District said operators of about 15 licensed fishing boats had been making profits since the eel-catching season started around the beginning of the year.
Demand for the delicacy continued to attract several illegal fishing boats to the mouth of the Yangtze River. The fishing authority said unlicensed boats' rampant fishing operations posed a major threat to shipping safety in the waters, and caused damage to nets laid by authorized operators.
Some have also been accused of stealing produce from the nets. The catch at the river mouth was four tons in 2006 but it dropped to the lowest level in history last year.
The fishing authority said it was launching the second major blitz of the year yesterday on all local waters where eel is caught to swoop on illegal operators.
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