Sustainable Eel Group
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Sustainable Eel Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sustainable Eel Group
- Legal name
- Sustainable Eel Group
- Website
- https://sustainableeelgroup.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sustainable Eel Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
Keywords
Where Sustainable Eel Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sustainable Eel Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SEG Standard Certification Fees: Certification fees from fisheries, farms, and traders meeting the SEG Standard for sustainability and traceability.
- Eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) Contributions: A small percentage on every eel sale is forwarded to the national stewardship fund. These monies support scientific research, conservation measures, and SEG programs. Membership of ESF does not imply attainment of SEG Standard certification.
- ESA Logo Licenses: Eel Stewardship Association receives money from logo licenses. Eel sold with the ESF logo adds to the fund in respective countries, along with grants and gifts.
- Conservation Project Funding: SEG coordinates and receives funding for conservation projects including habitat restoration, fish pass installations, and restocking programs, often in partnership with government agencies and industry.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sustainable Eel Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sustainable Eel Group is a non-profit NGO that develops and operates the SEG Standard sustainability certification system for European eel fisheries, farms, and traders. It coordinates conservation projects including habitat restoration, fish pass installations, and restocking programmes; administers the Eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) consumer contribution mechanism; and supports scientific traceability research through initiatives such as the Glass Eel Traceability Project and Telecapêche electronic catch reporting system.
Product overview
The Sustainable Eel Group operates as a conservation NGO focused on accelerating the recovery of the European Eel. Its core offerings center around the SEG Standard certification system (Version 6.0, 2018) for ensuring responsibility and traceability in eel fisheries and farms, supplemented by the Eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) consumer contribution program and the Eel Stewardship Association (ESA) administrative organization. Key initiatives include the EELRIC Eel Reproduction Innovation Centre for captive breeding research, the Telecapêche electronic catch reporting system for UK fisheries, and the Glass Eel Traceability Project using microchemistry analysis. The organization works across science, conservation, commercial, and rewilding domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SEG Standard Sustainability certification standard for European eel fisheries, farms, and traders ensuring responsibility and traceability from source to market. Version 6.0 provides third-party verification of sustainable eel sourcing practices for commercial operators.
- Eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) Consumer contribution programme where a small percentage on every eel sale is forwarded to national stewardship funds to support scientific research, conservation measures, and SEG programmes leading to eel recovery.
- Eel Stewardship Association (ESA) Administrative organisation founded in 2015 by industry organisations of the Netherlands and Germany, responsible for accelerating eel recovery in Europe and ensuring sustainable use of the stock. Manages the ESF trademark and logo licensing programme.
- EELRIC (Eel Reproduction Innovation Centre) Platform for the reproduction of eel in captivity, hosting an international consortium of partners working on breakthroughs in sustainable aquaculture. Co-initiated by DUPAN and Wageningen University and Research Centre.
- Telecapêche Electronic Catch Reporting System Electronic tele-declaration system for UK glass eel fisheries enabling fishers, collectors, and traders to report catches via web interface or text messages, creating full traceability throughout the supply chain and reducing illegal trafficking.
Quantifiable outcome
- Fish passes installed at multiple UK sites enabling eel migration to previously inaccessible habitat
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sustainable Eel Group
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sustainable Eel Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sustainable Eel Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- The Rivers TrustcoreThe Rivers Trust coordinated the 2021 Eels in the Classroom Programme alongside SEG and various Rivers and Wildlife Trusts across the South West of England.
- Tees Rivers TrustcoreTees Rivers Trust is the delivery partner for the 'Eels of Steel' project on the River Tees, combining eDNA monitoring, habitat restoration, and public engagement, supported by Natural England funding.
- Thames Rivers TrustcoreThames Rivers Trust leads the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project with initial development funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund of £460,000 set to increase to £2.7 million, addressing barriers to migration and citizen science monitoring.
- Somerset Eel Recovery Project (SERP)coreSERP is a community-oriented conservation project combining practical activity with education, cultural programming, and long-term public engagement. Developed Eel Pilgrimage Trail and published guidebook on European eel.
- Nottinghamshire Wildlife TrustcoreNottinghamshire Wildlife Trust partnered with SEG on the Trent Eel Project, working with Aquatic Control Engineering to install an eel pass at Idle Valley Nature Reserves to help baby eels migrate into Belmoor Lake area.
- Canal & River TrustcoreCanal & River Trust partnered with SEG on the Trent Eel Project, employing FishTek Consulting to install an eel pass on Hazelford Weir on the River Trent between Nottingham and Newark.
- Environment AgencycoreEnvironment Agency partnered with SEG on multiple UK eel conservation projects, providing regulatory approval and technical expertise for fish passes and habitat restoration across English waterways.
- Aquatic Control EngineeringcoreAquatic Control Engineering designed, supplied, and installed eel passes on multiple SEG-coordinated projects including Trent Eel Project, Ham Wall, Catcott Fen, and Fritton Lake.
- FishTek ConsultingcoreFishTek Consulting was employed by Canal & River Trust to install an eel pass on Hazelford Weir as part of the SEG-organized Trent Eel Project.
- Severn River TrustcoreSevern River Trust co-organized with SEG and Environment Agency the workshop on Dam Removal in the urban environment, attended by more than 100 people.
- Manatee LabcoreManatee Lab partnered with Environment Agency on the Telecapêche 2 project (2017-2018) implementing a tele-declaration system for UK glass eel fisheries to improve traceability and reduce illegal trafficking.
- EDF EnergycoreEDF Energy (Hinkley Point B and Sizewell B power stations) has partnered with SEG on multiple fish pass installation projects including RSPB Ham Wall (2017) and Fritton Lake (2017), providing funding and environmental coordination for European eel habitat restoration.
- RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)coreRSPB partnered with SEG on the Ham Wall eel pass project, owning and organizing work at the Ham Wall Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels to enable baby eels to colonize 100 hectares of prime habitat.
- BOKU ViennacoreBOKU Vienna partnered with University of Southampton on the Glass Eel Traceability project (2017-2019), determining the potential of otolith and tissue microchemistry for traceability of glass eels.
- University of SouthamptoncoreUniversity of Southampton partnered with BOKU Vienna on the Glass Eel Traceability project, analyzing elemental and stable isotopic patterns for geographic differentiation of glass eels.
- Somerleyton EstatecoreSomerleyton Estate partnered with SEG on the Fritton Lake project, owning the 150-acre lake which serves as significant nursery ground for eels. A new tidal flap was installed to allow baby eels in and adult eels out.
- Somerset Wildlife TrustcoreSomerset Wildlife Trust partnered with SEG on the Catcott Fen fish pass project, owning Catcott Fen and the sluice where the pass was installed, enabling baby eels to access 95 hectares of prime habitat.
- Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR)coreWageningen UR partnered with Stichting Duurzame Palingsector Nederland (DUPAN) to initiate EELRIC (Eel Reproduction Innovation Centre), a platform for reproduction of eel in captivity and home for international consortium of partners.
- Stichting Duurzame Palingsector Nederland (DUPAN)coreDUPAN is the Dutch foundation of Eel traders, Dutch Association of fish farmers, and organisation of professional fishermen. Co-initiator of EELRIC with Wageningen UR and ESA founder.
- Bristol WatercoreBristol Water partnered with Avon Wildlife Trust and SEG on the 'Spawn to be Wild' award-winning schools project where children rear young eels in classrooms.
- Avon Wildlife TrustcoreAvon Wildlife Trust partnered with Bristol Water and SEG on the 'Spawn to be Wild' schools project, bringing eels into primary school classrooms for educational and restocking purposes.
- Eel Stewardship Association (ESA)coreESA was established in 2015 by industry organisations of the Netherlands and Germany as founder of the Eel Stewardship Fund and owner of the ESF trademark. Main goal is to accelerate eel recovery in Europe.
- IFEA (Initiative zur Förderung des Europäischen Aals e.V.)coreIFEA is the German association of eel traders and eel farmers, ESA member. Working on sustainable solutions for catch and farming of eel, environmental processing, and scientific research.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sustainable Eel Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy: Major international environmental NGO with significant freshwater and marine habitat restoration programs. Overlaps with SEG in habitat restoration and migration barrier removal but at much larger scale and broader species focus.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Large established global conservation NGO with seafood sustainability programs (e.g., WWF Fisheries Programme). Comparable in conservation mission but operates across many species and geographies rather than specializing in European eel.
Others
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): International treaty body regulating trade in endangered species including European eel. SEG participates in CITES meetings; comparable as the regulatory framework within which SEG's certification and traceability efforts operate.
Direct peers
- IFEA (Initiative zur Förderung des Europäischen Aals e.V.): German association of eel traders and eel farmers, ESA member working on sustainable catch and farming of eel. Comparable national-level eel sector sustainability organization analogous to SEG's coordinating role.
- Friend of the Sea: International non-profit certification scheme for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture products. Comparable to SEG Standard as a seafood sustainability standard with global reach, though broader in species scope.
- DUPAN (Stichting Duurzame Palingsector Nederland): Dutch foundation of eel traders, fish farmers, and professional fishermen; co-founder of EELRIC with Wageningen UR and ESA founder. Directly comparable as a national eel industry sustainability organization with parallel mission to SEG.
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): Operates the leading global sustainability certification standard for wild-capture fisheries, closely comparable to SEG's SEG Standard for eel. Both are non-profit standards bodies driving traceability and sustainability in seafood supply chains with regulator and retailer engagement.
- The Rivers Trust: UK umbrella organization for rivers trusts, partnered with SEG on Eels in the Classroom Programme 2021. Comparable in coordinating freshwater conservation projects across UK, with overlapping habitat restoration mission.
- Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC): Global non-profit certification and labelling program for responsibly farmed seafood, directly parallel to SEG's certification of eel farms. Both provide farm-level assurance programs addressing environmental and social responsibility in aquaculture.
Regional players
- Inland Waterways Association: UK charity advocating for inland waterway restoration and navigation. Comparable in fish passage and barrier remediation advocacy, though focused on broader navigation and recreation goals alongside ecological restoration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sustainable Eel Group social profiles
Digital presenceSustainable Eel Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sustainable Eel Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sustainable Eel Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sustainable Eel Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Eel Group
What does Sustainable Eel Group do?
Sustainable Eel Group is a non-profit NGO that develops and operates the SEG Standard sustainability certification system for European eel fisheries, farms, and traders. It coordinates conservation projects including habitat restoration, fish pass installations, and restocking programmes; administers the Eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) consumer contribution mechanism; and supports scientific traceability research through initiatives such as the Glass Eel Traceability Project and Telecapêche electronic catch reporting system.
Is Sustainable Eel Group a public or private company?
Sustainable Eel Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sustainable Eel Group founded?
Sustainable Eel Group was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sustainable Eel Group based?
Sustainable Eel Group is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Sustainable Eel Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SEG Standard Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are eel Stewardship Fund (ESF) Contributions, ESA Logo Licenses and conservation Project Funding.
Who are Sustainable Eel Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is listed as an others. Direct peers are IFEA (Initiative zur Förderung des Europäischen Aals e.V.), Friend of the Sea, DUPAN (Stichting Duurzame Palingsector Nederland), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), The Rivers Trust and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Inland Waterways Association is listed as a regional player.
Does Sustainable Eel Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sustainable Eel Group.
What industry is Sustainable Eel Group in?
Sustainable Eel Group's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its SIC code is 8600.