Photo: "Glass Eels," subject of harvesting on Long Island, photo by Uwe Kils, Wikimedia Commons
"Glass eels" are transparent immature American eels, and the Unkechaug Indian Nation of Long Island, NY has been interested in harvesting them based on treaty rights from 1676. However, a court rejected the Unkechaug lawsuit.
Glass eels are protected under New York State law, especially since the eels are desired in East Asian markets and overharvesting could cause eel populations to plummet.
The Unkechaug Indian nation based their claim on the Andros law, signed by the Royal Governor of New York in 1676, when New York was still a colony of the United Kingdom.
The U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, ruled on January 28, 2025, that the Andros Order did not entitle the Unkechaug people to harvest glass eels in opposition to New York law, because the British royal order predated the U.S. Constitution of 1789, and had not since been ratified since under US law.
Sources:
"Court denies Unkechaug Indian Nation fishing rights for “glass” eels in New York," Charles Witek III, March 4, 2025
"Second Circuit ends glass eel fishing season for Unkechaug Indian Nation," Nika Schoonover, January 28, 2025
