Brussels, 19.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is soon to adopt emergency measures to safeguard eel stocks according to the conclusions adopted on Monday by the Agriculture/Fisheries Council after the presentation, in October 2003, of an action plan by Commissioner Franz Fischler in this connection. Member States consider that the Commission should, “where necessary”, envisage supporting measures aimed at reconstituting stocks of this species that, according to scientific opinion, is threatened. Emergency measures envisaged by the Commission include a ban on fishing eels at a certain stage in their life cycle or the introduction of minimum unloading sizes. The Commission considers priority must be given to measures allowing mature eels to return to the sea to spawn. At different stages of the life cycle, eels frequent the waters of the North Atlantic and then warmer or briny waters throughout almost the whole of Europe and North Africa.