Brussels, 03/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday in a communication, the European Commission on the development of a Community Action Plan for the management of European eels. As eels are to be found at various stages of their life-cycle in the waters of the northern Atlantic and then in fresh and brackish waters in almost all of Europe and northern Africa, co-ordinated conservation measures are needed to safeguard the stock. While this plan is being developed, the Commission will propose urgent measures at the beginning of 2004 to ensure that mature eels can migrate back to the sea to spawn and the long-term management system at the end of 2004.
According to scientific advice, there is an urgent need for a management plan for eels. Stock recovery requires that measures be implemented at all stages of the eel's life cycle. In estuaries, fisheries for glass eels that are used as seed for aquaculture need to be managed so that enough glass eels are left over to populate the river habitats. Upstream, fishing effort should be limited in order to allow a sufficient number of eels to survive until the start of the spawning migration. Finally, when the oldest eels start to migrate downstream, fisheries should be managed so as to make sure that eels are not all caught when migrating to the sea.
The Commission proposes that measures to protect eels include the following:
- Targets for eel management at different life stages:
These targets would reflect the three life stages of the eel from glass eel to yellow and silver eel. Thus, settlement targets would encourage measures such as the introduction of eel passes in dams to allow juvenile or glass eels to migrate upstream, while stocking targets for yellow eels could be met by imposing restrictions on local fisheries, extending and improving eel habitats or restocking using eels from aquaculture production. In the case of escape targets, local measures would be required to promote the escape of mature or silver eels from inland waters to the spawning grounds at sea by, for example, building eel passes in dams and/or prohibiting the use of some fishing gears.
- Collation of information and reporting on the effects of the measures in place:
Knowledge of local conditions is essential to the setting and monitoring of the above targets. The Commission will propose, based on a scientific evaluation, a comprehensive data collection system for eel at Community level.
- Establishing EU measures where they can reinforce local management:
While most recovery measures require decisions and action at the local level, some measures can only be implemented at EU level. Examples include the setting up of minimum sizes for marketing purposes or the licensing of trading in eels. The provision of EU financial aid to retrain the fishermen concerned or help them leave the sector will be considered by the Commission.
- The international dimension of eel conservation:
Given the trans-boundary distribution of eels, international co-operation is crucial to the success of a management plan. The relevant organisations include the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) together with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). Other parties involved could include the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA). Bilateral agreements would also be required with some countries such as Norway and Russia.
The Commission invites Member States to consider the type of urgent measures that could be applied.
These range from a prohibition of fishing in specific areas or for specific life stages to setting minimum landing sizes through closed seasons and habitat restoration initiatives.
The Commission believes that priority should be given to promoting the escape of silver (or mature) eels.
The Commission will examine the emergency measures that could be applied with immediate effect.
Eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Western Central Atlantic Ocean. The larvae drift and swim into river mouths all over Europe and northern Africa, when they migrate upstream to spend most of their lives. Eventually the oldest eels will migrate back downstream and across the Atlantic when they will spawn once and die. The smallest eels are fished for ongrowing in aquaculture, whilst older eels are fished directly for food.