Scientists from a global conservation body have concluded a five-day meeting during which they examined data to determine whether eel species, including the Japanese eel, should be listed as endangered.
The scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, which comprises state and nongovernmental bodies from around the world, did not make public their draft evaluations after the gathering ended Friday.
The IUCN is expected to hear views from external experts and hold further talks at a panel of freshwater fish specialists before finalizing the evaluations. The results could be released as early as this fall.