The European Eel - A species under threat

[Steve Coppolo]

Supernatural powers, eh

 

So it would seem. Just managed to open the Defra document on another PC. I only had to read the first few paragraphs to confirm what I thought.

 

Each Member State is required to

 

1) Set management targets based on an assessment of potential silver eel production

under conditions of no anthropogenic mortality and high (pre 1980) levels of

recruitment.

 

2) Estimate the present day silver eel production in relation to this target (i.e. estimate

compliance with the management target).

 

3) Develop and take the management actions that are necessary to achieve or maintain

compliance.

 

4) Collect data sufficient to support steps 1 to 3 above, and to demonstrate whether

compliance will be achieved in the future, i.e. that the actions identified in the EMP will

lead to the recovery of the eel population.

[wurzel]

Quote

 

The European eel is listed as critically endangered in Norway and on the IUCN Redlist. Stocks are at historically low levels with spawning levels at between one and five percent from their 1970 level, with only the Atlantic area seeing higher levels.

 

 

 

Seems to me they have just gone some place else for a while.

[Dick Dastardly]

If you are experiencing regular deep hooking problems and eel deaths then I suggest that you take a look at the way that you are fishing and treating your catch.

 

 

That's a cheap shot Mark and doesn't do the discussion or yourself any credit.Just because someone isn't a member of a single species specialist group that doesn't mean that they don't fish for that species or are not competent.Mind the same the other way in that membership of such doesn't guarantee competence either.

 

I don't buy and freshwater dead baits (in fact no sea deads either!) I catch mine either intentionally for bait (or more often they are simply lives that have died) or obtain them as the by catch from friends who commercially fish.Incidentally I wouldn't mind betting a lot of the commercially sold bait comes from similar either.

 

Also Chris and Mark you seem to have conveniently avoided my questions and comments regarding Zander and how many you catch each year that are deep hooked?

 

No one here wants to see the eel decline.Most involved in this argument fish for them so share your general concerns.Why aren't we NAC members? maybe just maybe because no one likes being preached to by people who think they are superior due to being members of such group!

 

Spread the word and we would gladly support you but learn to be a bit more diplomatic and do a bit of research first before just leaping in soap box and all.

 

That and being a little bit more realistic (there was nearly a bit of the "no one cares for/loves more than me that we see in the carp world in the initial posts from both of you.) will get you a lot more support and that will lead to people being far more receptive to your ideas.

 

I would be happy to stop using eels for bait if I thought it was the problem or would even help.I would even stop fishing (temporarily) for them as well.I just didn't like some one suggesting nay telling me I should stop using them as bait but it was ok to fish for them! (well long as I was a NAC member any way!)

 

Can you see what I'm saying or am I now just wrote of as an eel murdering noddy?

 

Just thought that I best add that when I'm intentionally fishing for eels I do get the occasional deep hooked fish no matter what rig/bait I'm using BUT the bulk (were talking a handful as I said in my first post so lets keep that in mind) of the "doomed" eels that I do take for bait are inevitably caught whilst I'm fishing for big bream with small worm or maggot/caster baits.Cant see any way I can avoid that I'm afraid...In fact if you could suggest a way then both I and a couple of others on here would be very happy! but of course you cant.

Edited November 6, 2009 by BUDGIE

[Dick Dastardly]

Seems to me they have just gone some place else for a while.

 

 

Be great if that was true mate! As I'm sure the two NAC lads will know that has actually been suggested in some of the reports and papers based on tidal current changes and (sorry cant remember the right word) changes in the temperatures of various major oceanic currents.

 

Tony Jolly and a few others have sent me some really interesting stuff on the subject but the over all picture is still that no one knows for sure what the exact reason is.Its all on my old PC and Ive promised several I will forward the lot when I can get it all transferred on to this new one.

[Mark7]

No comment on the possibility of your actions getting angling banned, then?

 

I have no desire to get angling banned.

[Mark7]

That's a cheap shot Mark and doesn't do the discussion or yourself any credit.Just because someone isn't a member of a single species specialist group that doesn't mean that they don't fish for that species or are not competent.Mind the same the other way in that membership of such doesn't guarantee competence either.

 

I don't buy and freshwater dead baits (in fact no sea deads either!) I catch mine either intentionally for bait (or more often they are simply lives that have died) or obtain them as the by catch from friends who commercially fish.Incidentally I wouldn't mind betting a lot of the commercially sold bait comes from similar either.

 

Also Chris and Mark you seem to have conveniently avoided my questions and comments regarding Zander and how many you catch each year that are deep hooked?

 

No one here wants to see the eel decline.Most involved in this argument fish for them so share your general concerns.Why aren't we NAC members? maybe just maybe because no one likes being preached to by people who think they are superior due to being members of such group!

 

Spread the word and we would gladly support you but learn to be a bit more diplomatic and do a bit of research first before just leaping in soap box and all.

 

That and being a little bit more realistic (there was nearly a bit of the "no one cares for/loves more than me that we see in the carp world in the initial posts from both of you.) will get you a lot more support and that will lead to people being far more receptive to your ideas.

 

I would be happy to stop using eels for bait if I thought it was the problem or would even help.I would even stop fishing (temporarily) for them as well.I just didn't like some one suggesting nay telling me I should stop using them as bait but it was ok to fish for them! (well long as I was a NAC member any way!)

 

Can you see what I'm saying or am I now just wrote of as an eel murdering noddy?

 

Just thought that I best add that when I'm intentionally fishing for eels I do get the occasional deep hooked fish no matter what rig/bait I'm using BUT the bulk (were talking a handful as I said in my first post so lets keep that in mind) of the "doomed" eels that I do take for bait are inevitably caught whilst I'm fishing for big bream with small worm or maggot/caster baits.Cant see any way I can avoid that I'm afraid...In fact if you could suggest a way then both I and a couple of others on here would be very happy! but of course you cant.

 

Not intended as a "cheap shot" and disappointed that you have taken it as such. It is possible to minimise deep hooking when targetting eels, and I merely pointed that out. Rigs are changing and improving all the time. My post did not suggest that you have to be an NAC member to be competent. Please read the post, and do not interpret it to suit your argument. Don't understand the zander reference.

 

Regards

 

Mark

[Steve Coppolo]

I have no desire to get angling banned.

 

Then I would be very careful about calling for restrictions on anglers and suggesting that we are part of the problem.

Edited November 6, 2009 by Steve Coppolo

[Dick Dastardly]

Maybe not intended Mark but that's certainly how "If you are experiencing regular deep hooking problems and eel deaths then I suggest that you take a look at the way that you are fishing and treating your catch." read. And it certainly appeared to be in reference to my comments about eels I deep hook/damage being the ones kept for bait.Incidentally more of a limitation of waste than an intentional interest.

 

And your post did insinuate at best that NAC members didn't have the same problems.

 

The Zander reference was regards Chris's initial (and since repeated) statement that it wasn't necessary to use eels for bait as there were plenty of alternatives.I pointed out that frozen eel section was the only frozen bait that I (and most other Zed anglers) have any confidence in.

 

So as your here at the moment Mark and Chris isn't what do you think and how many eels do you deep hook/potentially kill each season whilst fishing for them? (please note I'm not criticising as I came to terms with the realities of angling many years ago and accept them).

 

Ive also another argument as to why any call for not killing any eels anglers catch is some what flawed if made on the grounds of conservation in light of this present predicament ,but lets leave that for a bit.

[Dick Dastardly]

Out of interest has there recently been a change of NAC committee members and do either Mark or Chris hold positions? Cant tell as you both haven't given your actual names.

[Mark7]

Out of interest has there recently been a change of NAC committee members and do either Mark or Chris hold positions? Cant tell as you both haven't given your actual names.

 

I have been General Secretary of the NAC since November 2006, and full name is Mark Salt, and you will find Chris's details at the end of his first post. I have never had a problem with frozen baits for any predator, and tend to put any particular success with a bait down to confidence in it's effectiveness rather than it being superior to another. The use of frozen baits has been a subject of controversy for as long as I can remember, and I have noticed no appreciable difference in run frequency between frozen and freshly killed baits when fishing for eels. As the eel hunts by smell, and, we are told, has a sense of smell second only to a dog, then for me that indicates that frozen baits are equally effective, but we all have our own view on that. Interesting post here: http://www.totalcoarsefishing.com/cgi-bin/...?num=1254861498. Still can't see how you perceive that the mention of rigs and deep hookinng were a personal attack, but then maybe you are a sensitive soul, and I will bear that in mind in future I certainly know that my rigs can be improved as regards deep hooking prevention, and I am constantly revising them.

Edited November 7, 2009 by Mark7