Eel populations are falling, and new protections were defeated. Japan and the US opposed them

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Eels are the stuff of nightmares — slimy, snakelike creatures that lay millions of eggs before dying so their offspring can return home to rivers and streams. They've existed since the time of the dinosaurs, and some species are more poorly understood than those ancient animals.

Yet they're also that are declining all over the world, leading to a new push for restrictions on trade to help stave off extinction.