In his draft report on eel fisheries, which will be debated by the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on Tuesday 18 July, Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, Dutch) advocates better implementation of the eel regulation and the adoption of additional measures by the Member States.
Despite fishing restrictions and the fact that eel stocks are at their lowest (see EUROPE 13083/15), the draft report points out that the eel regulation was deemed “fit for purpose” in a European Commission report published in 2020.
The draft report supports the eel regulation’s target of restoring the eel stock to 40% of pristine conditions and the primary objective of reducing fishing mortality to enable this recovery. The rapporteur admits, however, that the 40% target may be impossible to achieve because of habitat loss, but that it is the standard for setting the mortality reduction target.
Mr Ruissen is calling for the creation of an advisory council specifically for eels, made up of representatives from the Member States and the fishing industry, recreational fishers, water managers, hydroelectric companies, environmentalists and other interested parties. This advisory council would be responsible for advising the Commission on the implementation of the eel regulation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)