TL;DR
A new mystery novel, The Glass Eel, and other recent books and TV shows are drawing on Maine’s illicit trade in baby eels (elvers). The phenomenon is being covered as a developing crime‑thriller subgenre and cultural subject in local reporting.
What happened
Press Herald business reporter Kay Neufeld wrote about a rising literary and screen interest in Maine’s illicit trade in baby eels, noting that the illegal elver market has become a backdrop for crime fiction. The piece highlights The Glass Eel, a mystery novel co‑written by Josh Viertel and his father Jack Viertel, which is set in Maine and centers on the elver black market; the book was published on Sept. 9. Neufeld’s article situates that title as the latest example among several books and television programs that explore elver poaching. The story was posted Sept. 9, 2025 and updated Sept. 13, 2025; a photo credit accompanies the piece. Beyond noting the creative trend, the article frames the black market for baby eels as a subject that has moved from local reporting and industry concern into fiction and popular culture.
Why it matters
- Artists and media are drawing on a real‑world fisheries issue to shape a recognizable crime‑thriller theme.
- Fiction and television attention can broaden public awareness of local issues tied to Maine’s waterways.
- The crossover from reporting to fiction signals a cultural interest in stories about illicit wildlife or resource trades.
- Coverage linking journalism and creative work may influence how the public understands elver poaching.
Key facts
- The article was published by the Portland Press Herald; Kay Neufeld is the author.
- The story was posted on Sept. 9, 2025 and updated on Sept. 13, 2025.
- The Glass Eel is a mystery novel co‑written by Josh Viertel and Jack Viertel.
- The Glass Eel is set in Maine and focuses on the elver (baby eel) black market.
- The book was released on Sept. 9 (year not contradicted in the source).
- Neufeld reports that several books and TV shows have begun to explore elver poaching.
- The article is tagged with topics including books, elvers, fishing (industry), and fishing hobby.
- A photographer, Daryn Slover, is credited for the image accompanying the story.
What to watch next
- Continued publication of fiction and television projects that use elver poaching as a plot element (already noted in the article).
- not confirmed in the source: specific legal, regulatory, or enforcement developments tied to elver poaching.
- not confirmed in the source: market or price trends for elvers and how they might affect storytelling or enforcement.
Quick glossary
- Elver: A juvenile eel; the term commonly refers to young eels that migrate from the ocean into freshwater systems.
- Glass eel: A developmental stage of eels when they are translucent and migrating into freshwater; often used interchangeably with elver in some contexts.
- Black market: An illegal trade in goods or services conducted outside of official channels or regulations.
- Poaching: Unauthorized or illegal taking of wildlife or natural resources, often in violation of conservation laws or permits.
Reader FAQ
What is The Glass Eel?
A mystery novel co‑written by Josh Viertel and Jack Viertel that is set in Maine and centers on the elver black market.
When was the book released?
The article notes The Glass Eel came out on Sept. 9.
Does the article provide details on the size or economics of the elver black market?
not confirmed in the source.
Are specific arrests, prosecutions or policy changes described in the piece?
not confirmed in the source.
Josh Viertel and his father, Jack Viertel, wrote “The Glass Eel,” a mystery novel about the elver black market that is set in Maine. The book came out Sept. 9….
Sources
- Maine's black market for baby eels
- Maine's black market for baby eels is spawning a crime …
- Maine's black market for baby eels is spawning a crime- …
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