Eels break 記録，記録的な／記録するs in Maine, where they sell for big money
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - America's only 重要な 明言する／公表する 漁業 for baby eels has blown past 記録，記録的な／記録するs for value as high 需要・要求する from overseas aquaculture companies is 運動ing prices to new 高さs.
Fishermen in Maine search for the eels, called elvers, in rivers and streams every spring so they can be sold to Asian aquaculture companies as seed 在庫／株. Fishermen have sold more than $20 million 価値（がある） of the eels so far this season, によれば the Maine Department of 海洋 資源s.
That is the highest total since interstate 経営者／支配人s 学校／設けるd a 割当 system for the eels in 2014. The previous 記録，記録的な／記録する was $13.4 million, and fishermen still have until June 7 to catch more of the eels this year.
FILE - In this May 25, 2017, とじ込み／提出する photo, licensed eel fishermen Jessica Card, left, and Julie Keene 向こうずね flashlights into the water on the banks of the Penobscot River after setting a 逮捕する in Brewer, Maine. America's only 重要な 明言する／公表する 漁業 for baby eels has blown past 記録，記録的な／記録するs for value in spring 2018, as high 需要・要求する from overseas aquaculture companies is 運動ing prices to new 高さs. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, とじ込み／提出する)
"Eels are going to get caught up in this next 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of tides, I think," said Darrell Young, co-director of the Maine Elver Fishermen's 協会. "You never know what the price is going to be, but this year it's high."
The eels are raised to 成熟 and used in Japanese cuisine. Some are 輸出（する）d 支援する to the U.S. for use in restaurants in dishes such as unagi. The elvers are always 極端に 価値のある, but they are fetching an 特に high price this year because eel 漁業s had unproductive years in other parts of the world, members of the 産業 said.
Maine's fishermen were selling elvers at the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる for more than $2,400 a 続けざまに猛撃する as of May 16, and that would be a 記録，記録的な／記録する if it 持つ／拘留するs until the end of the season, 明言する／公表する 記録，記録的な／記録するs say. They're also not experiencing the slow 収穫 that has 疫病／悩ますd fishermen in other parts of the world, and are on 跡をつける to tap out their entire 9,688-続けざまに猛撃する 割当 this year.
The 大西洋 明言する／公表するs 海洋 漁業s （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 manages the elver 漁業 and 学校／設けるd the 割当 for the first time in 2014 out of 関心 that a gold-急ぐ mentality would 危険にさらす the eel 全住民, which conservationists believe is in 危険，危なくする. Fishermen caught nearly 40,000 続けざまに猛撃するs of the eels between 2012 and 2013, which were years in which Maine elvers grew in value because foreign 在庫／株s 乾燥した，日照りのd up.
The 割当 was 最初 11,749 続けざまに猛撃するs, and it was 減ずる d to 9,688 続けざまに猛撃するs in 2015. Fishermen have never caught the entirety of the 割当, though they've come の近くに in the past two years. A 提案 to 増加する the 割当 支援する to the higher number is up for public 審理，公聴会s in Maine next month.
The growth of the 漁業 has attracted the attention of some 環境保護主義者s. Geoff Smith, 海洋 science program director for The Nature Conservancy, said Maine regulators were wise to 器具／実施する new 支配（する）／統制するs, such as a swipe-card system to 阻止する poaching.
"As the 全世界の 需要・要求する for elvers continues to rise, it's ますます important to have an 効果的な 監視するing and 報告（する）／憶測ing system," Smith said.
連邦の 捜査官／調査官s have also 割れ目d 負かす／撃墜する on elver poaching in 最近の years. A 裁判官 支配するd in 早期に May that two Maine men will spend six months in 連邦の 刑務所，拘置所 for 不法に trafficking in poached baby eels.
捜査官／調査官s are "活発に working to 取り去る／解体する an international 野性生物 trafficking 計画／陰謀 that not only 害（を与える）s American eels, but U.S. 商売／仕事 owners and others who rely on healthy ecosystems for both 生態学の and economical 目的s," said Assistant Director Edward Grace for the U.S. Fish and 野性生物 Service's Office of 法律 施行.
FILE - In this May 25, 2017, とじ込み／提出する photo, baby eels swim in a plastic 捕らえる、獲得する after 存在 caught 近づく Brewer, Maine. America's only 重要な 明言する／公表する 漁業 for baby eels has blown past 記録，記録的な／記録するs for value in spring 2018, as high 需要・要求する from overseas aquaculture companies is 運動ing prices to new 高さs. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, とじ込み／提出する)
