EU fisheries ministers were divided on Monday 26 September over the measures to take to help recover the stock of European eel.
The European eel population has fallen by 90% since the 1960s/70s and remains in a critical state, the European Commission has said (https://aeur.eu/f/39c ). “Solutions must be found”, according to the Commission, for whom the “status quo” of measures “is no longer an option”.
Sweden, Denmark and Germany have called for ambitious protection measures, taking into account all factors (not only fishing) that cause mortality (dams, pollution, predators, etc.). Germany has supported measures to restock eels.
A total ban on eel fishing makes no sense in Austria’s view, which, like other countries (including Italy), emphasised the importance of strengthening the fight against illegal fishing.
France has said that it does not agree with the method: “Management measures stricter than those in place do not seem necessary. However, this is what the Commission is proposing for yellow eel in the Mediterranean. Extending the closure period to 6 months is not feasible for us, given the dependence of fishing companies on yellow eel”, according to the French delegation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)