Aeon Co., Ltd. began selling fully farmed eels online on May 29, 2024, at a price of 4,860 yen per fish [1].
The launch represents a significant step toward reducing the industry's reliance on wild glass eels. With wild eel populations facing depletion and prices remaining high, the ability to raise the species entirely from eggs offers a sustainable path for the Japanese market [1], [2].
These specific eels were raised in tanks located in Oita Prefecture [1]. The process is resource-intensive and carries a low survival rate; approximately 1,000 eels were successfully raised from an initial 300,000 eggs [1]. The growth period from egg to saleable size takes about one and a half years [1].
Mitsuko Tsuchiya, vice president of Aeon, said she was deeply moved by the project and had long held an interest in the process. She said she wanted to support the producers in some way [1].
The fish are being sold in limited quantities through online channels [1]. This method of production aims to stabilize the supply chain by removing the need to capture juvenile eels from the wild, which is the traditional method for aquaculture in the region [1], [2].
While the cost per unit is high, the initiative focuses on the long-term viability of the species. By proving that full aquaculture is commercially possible, the partnership between Aeon and the Oita producers seeks to create a blueprint for future sustainable seafood production [1].
“4,860 yen per fish”
The commercialization of fully farmed eels addresses a critical ecological vulnerability in Japan's food supply. Because traditional aquaculture relies on catching wild juveniles, the industry remains tied to the fluctuations and depletion of wild stocks. Successful full-cycle farming—from egg to adult—could eventually decouple eel production from environmental instability, though the current low survival rate suggests that costs will remain high until the technology scales.
