In Japan, an endangered eel was hiding in plain sight

In Japan, an endangered eel was hiding in plain sight

By Shi En Kim

Source: nationalgeographic

2/9/2024

Credit: Yuriko Nakao, Reuters/Redux

The narrow strip of murky water rippling along the concrete-lined banks of Japan’s Dotonbori River in Osaka may be the last place anyone would think to find wildlife, let alone an endangered species.

Japan’s third most populous metropolitan area, Osaka, is famous for its round-the-clock entertainment, endless shopping districts, and seas of crowds. At the heart of its bustling downtown is the Dotonbori River, where millions of tourists flock annually to bask under the iconic billboards, their multicolored glare spilling into the river. The water itself is not particularly attractive, with an expert once advising that swimming in it would be like “jumping into the toilet bowl.”

But the inhospitable depths of the Dotonbori hide a familiar creature: The river is home to Japanese eels, exactly the kind you would be served if you ordered unagi at a Japanese restaurant. Last year, the Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, in the Osaka Prefecture, and the Mainichi Broadcasting System Television jointly announced the capture of 11 individuals in Dotonbori’s waters. It was the first record of live Anguilla japonica there.

Continue...

News Id		Source	Stamp	country
3526	2 Auburn students win $1 million bass fishing tournament	The Associated Press	2021-12-05	US
3527	How a tiny pet store fish became the center of neuroscience research	asbmb	2021-11-27	US
3528	Rare anglerfish spotted on San Diego beach	cbs8	2021-11-23	US
3529	No routine checkups on welfare of fish at slaughter, officials admit	theguardian	2021-11-23	UK
3530	Rare ornamental fish from Assam on the brink of extinction	mongabay	2021-11-17	IN
3531	Archaeology breakthrough after discovery of ancient human fishing rod: 'Amazing'	express	2021-11-21	UK
3532	Florida man takes children without father figures on fishing excursions	Fox News	2021-11-22	US
3533	Record-breaking fish fought Pennsylvania angler for 25 minutes, but lost the battle	centredaily	2021-11-16	US
3534	Fish store owner gets probation for selling endangered and invasive fish	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	2021-11-18	US
3535	The cost of a fish sandwich: Why we need to reduce bycatch by Alaska’s trawl fleet	adn	2021-11-20	US
3536	How Did A 72-Pound Carp End Up In Humboldt Park’s Lagoon? Big Catch Could Be From A Decades-Old Mistake, Experts Say	blockclubchicago	2021-11-15	US
3537	Thai woman's bedroom turns into aquarium full of fish after heavy rainfall	mashable	2021-11-09	VN
3538	Fishing boat seized after crew caught set netting in prohibited area	stuff	2021-11-10	NZ
3539	Huge fish tracked on the James River, project will help to manage “Giants of the James”	wfxrtv	2021-11-11	US
3540	You can swim with the fish at St. Pete Beach's RumFish Grill	abcactionnews	2021-11-11	US
3541	Iran names newly discovered species of fish after Ali Daei	ifpnews	2021-11-15	IR
3542	Longtime Lorain library goldfish Nemo swims to a new home at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital	news5cleveland	2021-11-11	US
3543	Some of Earth’s longest-lived fish show how to reach extreme ages	nature	2021-11-12	US
3544	Cop26: Oceanographer Sylvia Earle calls for industrial fishing ban on high seas	theguardian	2021-11-10	UK
3545	Cambridge report recommends cutting the Riverside dam project	the record	2021-11-29	CA
3546	Castlewood creek popular despite E. coli levels	stltoday	2010-07-27	US
3547	Record 21.57 pound tautog caught off Newport	johnstonsunrise	2021-11-19	US
3548	A tiny Alaska town is split over a goldmine. At stake is a way of life	theguardian	2021-06-22	US
3549	Fish captured 'smoking cigarette' on camera saved before gobbling the entire thing	dailystar	2021-09-27	UK
3550	Zombie plant a threat to fish and even swimmers	CBC News	2021-09-07	CA

141 of [142 - pages.]