Under this proposal, Member States would set up national plans to ensure that 40% of the level of adult eels which, in the absence of fishing and other effects from human activities, would migrate from the rivers on their territories, escape to the sea to spawn. These plans, to be in place by July 2007, are crucial to restoring the stock, as the recent levels of young fish joining the stock have been as low as 1% of their historic levels. Until such plans are in place, the Commission proposes to ban eel fishing from the 1st to the 15th of every month. The proposal follows a wide ranging consultation process with Member States and stakeholders. Eels are of interest to most Member States in terms of professional and sport fishing, aquaculture and related activities.

“Today’s proposal reflects the extensive consultations with stakeholders and the need for a concerted effort to restore the eel stock. The Commission proposes an escapement target but the choice of protection measures rests with the Member States which are best placed to adapt them to local conditions.” Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said.

Measures proposed:

Ensuring the return of adult eels to the sea
The national management plans will need to tackle the causes of the depletion of the eel stock, mostly due to fishing at unsustainable levels and to the effects of other human activities on the eels’ habitats and migratory patterns. Factors ranging from pollution to water turbines, dams and weirs, for example, also account for the loss of eels. The aim, therefore, is to achieve an escapement target of 40% of adult silver eel in relation to the level that would escape to the sea in the absence of these factors.

Each Member State would have to prepare its own eel management plan describing the intended measures to ensure high escapement levels and to monitor their implementation. Each plan would be reviewed by the Commission’s own advisory body, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). Following approval by the Commission, the plans would be applicable from 1 July 2007. In devising these plans, co-ordination with existing EU measures and action in the sphere of conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and of water policy will have to be ensured. For eel river basins extending to the territory of two or more Member States, the Parties concerned would prepare a joint management plan.

Monthly closures
Given the urgent need to enhance the survival of eels, Member States would have to close all eel fisheries from the 1st to the 15th of each month until the national management plans have been approved by the Commission and put in place. Fishing could, however, continue during the closed period where a Member State can reliably demonstrate that measures of similar effectiveness guaranteeing the 40% escape rate requirement are already in place. Fishing for glass eel could also continue if these eels are used for restocking rivers but not used for aquaculture.

Future action:

The Commission will soon propose the setting up of a traceability system to deter infringements. It also intends to explore measures, compatible with trade laws, to increase the amount of young glass eels available for stock enhancing measures and required for conservation purposes. Member States would have to report by the end of 2009 on the monitoring, effectiveness and results of the plans. For its part, the Commission would present a report to the Council and the European Parliament on the outcome of these plans.

Background