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Americans with a taste for eel are helping to drive an export boom. Statistics New Zealand export figures show sales of eel to North America grew 115 per cent last year. Tim Strauss, vicepresident of Hawaiian Airlines’ cargo division, which delivers thousands of live eels to New York each year, says the carrier’s own figures show strong growth for the niche export. Before 2015, the airline had not carried any eel – but exports took off in 2016.
‘‘The second half of 2016 was particularly strong for Kiwi eel exporters. Our figures show eel shipments from New Zealand were up more than 2600 per cent on the same period in the year prior with
Our figures show eel shipments from New Zealand were up more than 2600 per cent on the same period in the year prior - with all of this product delivered to New York Tim Strauss, vice-president of Hawaiian Airlines
all of this product delivered to New York,’’ he said.
Freelance food writer and blogger at Eats Cooks Reads Catherine Milford, said eel was traditionally eaten in England and Japan. But as the Japanese influence extended around the globe, eel was becoming popular.
‘‘Every time you go to a sushi place you see eel there. Some people are still reticent about it, but when you see it sitting next to the prawn or salmon on the sushi tray it’s not so scary any more.’’
She said New Zealand seafood was sought-after and demand for eel was an extension of that. ‘‘There’s a lot to be said for being able to say it’s New Zealand seafood.’’
More than $584,000 worth of NZ eel was shipped to US wholesalers last year - up from $271,000 in the previous year. The growth trend for US demand is very high. Internationally, there was a 39 per cent drop in sales.