25% of respondents in Japan are willing to do anything to try farmed eel, RehovoT - farmed seafood innovator Forsea Foods Ltd. Recently a survey throughout the Japan shows that Japanese consumers are increasingly accepting farmed eels as a sustainable and affordable alternative to dwindling wild populations.
The survey, conducted in January 2025 with 2,000 respondents, highlights the potential for farmed eels to meet growing demand, particularly in Japan, which consumes nearly half of the world's freshwater eel supply.
According to the survey, 35% of respondents are familiar with farmed seafood and would like to try farmed eel. 25% of respondents said they were willing to try regardless of price, while others said they were price-sensitive.
The enduring appeal and growing concern of eels
Eel is a staple of Japanese cuisine and has an iconic status. Despite the eel's cultural significance and market value of up to $10 billion, high prices and environmental concerns have limited its consumption. Previous research by Forsea (August 2024) showed that nearly a quarter of respondents do not eat eel for cost reasons, while more than a third are concerned about the ecological impact of overfishing. Despite these challenges, more than half of respondents eat eel at least once a year, 10 percent enjoy it regularly, and 50 percent are willing to pay a premium for high quality eel.