Just remember a friend show me an easy way of cooking eel. BBQ/grill eel fillet.
Cut eel into 2"x3"/3"x4" thin (say 10mm) slices. Marinate slices in soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, salt, seasoning mixture for a few hours. Skew each slice with a couple of bamboo stick to stop it curling while cooking. Brush on more sauce/marinate, grill under hot grill for a few minute each side, serve with salad or rice with veg.
PS, Where does the toxin in softwood come from, is it naturally present?