The U.S. state of Maine saw the value of its elver fishery jump back up to historic levels after a 2020 that was marred by closures and low prices caused by COVID-19.
Preliminary data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) indicate that the value of the catch, which topped out at 8,960.967 pounds out of an available 9,620.70 pounds, is reported to be USD 16.56 million (EUR 13.87 million). On average, the price of elvers came in at average price-per-pound of USD 1,849 (EUR 1,549) in 2021.
Elvers, also known as glass eels, have become the second most valuable fishery in the state in recent years, behind only lobster. However, 2020 saw the fishery plummet in value after COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions closed the fishery, and a lack of demand from key markets caused the value to drop.
According to Maine DMR totals from 2020, despite dealers buying a total of 9,650 pounds out of 9,688 available, the fishery only earned USD 5 million (EUR 4.2 million) at an average price-per-pound of USD 525 (EUR 440). The fishery typically sends its catch to markets in Asia that raise the baby eels to adulthood in aquaculture operations, but COVID-19 related disruptions hit just as the season was scheduled to start on 22 March, 2020.
The elver fishery has had a complicated few years. In 2018, the fishery was shut down early despite surpassing USD 21 million (EUR 17.5 million) in value, at a record high price of more that USD 2,360 (EUR 1,977) per pound due to illegal sales that led regulators to fear the species could be overfished.
New regulations and management strategies were put in place soon after, and the fishery had a successful 2019 – only to have a disrupted 2020 due to COVID-19.
Photo by Cliff White/SeafoodSource
