16/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On the evening of Monday 16 April, the Fisheries Ministers of the EU examined a third (and final) version of a compromise on eel stock restitution measures. The negotiations focused on the following subjects: Restocking: the second text of the compromise, which was presented in the morning, provided and obligation on Member States which practice elver (young eels) fishing to reserve 65% (75% initially) of their catch for restocking measures in eel hydrographic pools. France, Spain and Italy opposed this text, because they are the main countries which practice elver fishing and do not see why they should sell their young eels (for lower prices) to certain countries of the North, which currently have shortages (the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Germany). These countries, on the other hand, are reluctant to see this percentage reduced. Management plan: the compromise text obliges the Member States to present a management plan for each hydrographic basin, with the objective of allowing at least 40% of adult silvered eels (adults) to escape into the sea (their breeding ground). Several Member States are calling for the transmission deadline and the implementation date of their eel stock management plans to be postponed (31 December 2008, as opposed to 31 March 2008 in the second compromise text for the transmission deadline and starting on 1 July 2009, from 1 October 2008 in the compromise for the implementation). Black Sea: By request of the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, the Commission is proposing to include the Black Sea in the scope of application of the regulation. Other countries, such as Romania and Austria, however, are opposed to this, due to the fact that they have no eel fisheries. (lc)