Eels are facing a severe risk of extinction, with 95% of the population already vanished, leading to their inclusion in the IUCN's red list. Despite a global eel market worth $4.3 billion, primarily based on wild eel, calls have been made by Ethic Ocean and the World Culinary Council of Relais & Châteaux for a ban on eel in menus and a suspension of European eel fishing. Conservation efforts are ongoing, but the species remains critically endangered due to challenges in captive reproduction. In Italy, a partial or full-year fishing ban is in effect, and the European Lifeel project is striving to maintain and increase the natural eel stock.