US government clamps down on eel poaching as value grows

Brewer, Maine • Changes in the worldwide fisheries industry have turned live baby American eels into a commodity that can fetch more than $2,000 a pound at the dock, but the big demand and big prices have spawned a black market that wildlife officials say is jeopardizing the species.Law enforcement authorities have launched a crackdown on unlicensed eel fishermen and illicit sales along the East Coast.Although not a well-known seafood item like the Maine lobster, wriggling baby eels, or elv