Save the Eel

[Mark7]

As there seems to be an eel related post on most forums now, as spring takes hold, I felt that it was time to make a plea for the welfare of the eel. There have been many informed and sensible posts made over the last few days relating to the eel and its future, but there have also been many opinions expressed that will not help the species survive.

 

It is generally accepted amongst scientists, environmental organisations and bodies such as the EA that european eel stocks are close to, or may be at, a level that is biologically unsustainable. The Eel Management Plans that are now in place across the EU are intended to address this, but it may be too little, too late. In this circumstance, we (the National Anguilla Club) feel that to take even a single eel is morally incorrect, does not aid the survival of the species, and sends the wrong sort of message. Eels are arguably one of the finest eating fish but that is not a good reason for killing a fish that is in a precarious position. Bear in mind, too, that the eel cannot be bred in captivity. The whole stock relies on successful spawning in the Sargasso. We cannot make up any shortfall. As for taking the odd eel from stillwaters making no difference, we should remember that, once they have reached sexual maturity, eels will return to the sea to spawn at any size or age, if conditions are correct, and they are given the opportunity. So that odd one taken could be, or grow into, a big female that will produce huge quantities of spawn, and it might just tip the balance. The loss of one species from the system would be disastrous, and will impact on many other species, particularly as the eel is a keystone species. A keystone species is one which is disproportionately important to the maintenance of community integrity and following whose extinction major ecological changes would ensue.

 

Buying a tub of jellied eels or a pack of eel sections for bait doesn't help either, because we feed the commercial operation, which operates on a supply and demand basis.

 

Commercial eel fishing is only one of the threats facing the eel: climate change, pollution, barriers on rivers, predation, pollutants, disease-you name it, the eel is affected by it. I implore all thinking anglers not to add to the list.

 

So the plea is: Put all eels back, and do not buy them to eat or use as bait. If you catch an eel by accident or design, always put it back, even if you cannot remove the hook. They do survive, and have a remarkable ability to shed hooks. If you are fishing for them deliberately, strike at the earliest opportunity, and use barbless hooks. For more info, see: www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk

 

Mark Salt

 

General Secretary, National Anguilla Club

[Steve Coppolo]

As there seems to be an eel related post on most forums now, as spring takes hold, I felt that it was time to make a plea for the welfare of the eel. There have been many informed and sensible posts made over the last few days relating to the eel and its future, but there have also been many opinions expressed that will not help the species survive.

 

It is generally accepted amongst scientists, environmental organisations and bodies such as the EA that european eel stocks are close to, or may be at, a level that is biologically unsustainable. The Eel Management Plans that are now in place across the EU are intended to address this, but it may be too little, too late. In this circumstance, we (the National Anguilla Club) feel that to take even a single eel is morally incorrect, does not aid the survival of the species, and sends the wrong sort of message. Eels are arguably one of the finest eating fish but that is not a good reason for killing a fish that is in a precarious position. Bear in mind, too, that the eel cannot be bred in captivity. The whole stock relies on successful spawning in the Sargasso. We cannot make up any shortfall. As for taking the odd eel from stillwaters making no difference, we should remember that, once they have reached sexual maturity, eels will return to the sea to spawn at any size or age, if conditions are correct, and they are given the opportunity. So that odd one taken could be, or grow into, a big female that will produce huge quantities of spawn, and it might just tip the balance. The loss of one species from the system would be disastrous, and will impact on many other species, particularly as the eel is a keystone species. A keystone species is one which is disproportionately important to the maintenance of community integrity and following whose extinction major ecological changes would ensue.

 

Buying a tub of jellied eels or a pack of eel sections for bait doesn't help either, because we feed the commercial operation, which operates on a supply and demand basis.

 

Commercial eel fishing is only one of the threats facing the eel: climate change, pollution, barriers on rivers, predation, pollutants, disease-you name it, the eel is affected by it. I implore all thinking anglers not to add to the list.

 

So the plea is: Put all eels back, and do not buy them to eat or use as bait. If you catch an eel by accident or design, always put it back, even if you cannot remove the hook. They do survive, and have a remarkable ability to shed hooks. If you are fishing for them deliberately, strike at the earliest opportunity, and use barbless hooks. For more info, see: www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk

 

Mark Salt

 

General Secretary, National Anguilla Club

 

When you've addressed some of the real issues and done something about them, i.e, when you've got commercial fishing for elvers stopped, for example, come back and tell us and I might stop taking them home to eat.

[barry luxton]

I think the eels worst enemy are the men in suits, they have known about the eels demise for years and years as this link shows the time scale that is how long it has actually taken for all to do something. I don't know what they have proposed with regards to the new laws but it has taken much too long. This is exactly what happens with too many fingers in the pie. At the end of the day it is the stock that suffers, they don't really care as long as they have paperwork to manage. Shamefull.

 

Eels

Eels are migratory fish, but unlike salmon and sea trout they spend their adult lives in freshwater, returning to the sea to spawn. European eels derive from only one common stock. The theory is that they cross the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea -which is in the North Atlantic Basin, south-west of Bermuda and east of the island chain from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico - where they spawn and the larvae are carried by the Gulf Stream back to European shores.

 

The eel was once common around Britain, being present in most rivers, streams and lakes that are accessible from the sea. Commercial eel fisheries were the most valuable inland fisheries in England and Wales and provide significant benefits to the rural economy. However, there is considerable concern about the status of eel stocks in the UK and Europe. The abundance of eels in Europe has declined since the 1970s, which is thought to be related in part to oceanographic changes between the spawning grounds near the Caribbean and the coast of Europe, and to other factors such as pollution, parasites, barriers to freshwater migration and over fishing.

 

To address these concerns the Environment Agency developed a National Eel Management Strategy, following extensive consultation with the eel fishing industry, angling and conservation interests and with government. The Strategy was published in March 2001, and the Agency has recently introduced a national package of eel fishing byelaws. Details can be found on the Environment Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk or from your local Environment Agency office.

 

As mentioned above, the decline in eel stocks is an international concern and The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) recommended that a recovery plan for European eel is urgently needed. It went on to say that the rebuilding plan should include measures to reduce exploitation of all life stages and restore habitats. ICES also recommended that if no such plan is agreed, exploitation should be reduced to the lowest possible level.

 

In response to this advice, the European Union adopted Council Regulation No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European Eel. Within each management plan, Member States need to set out a number of short and long term measures intended to achieve the goal of ensuring that at least 40% of the potential production of adult eels returns to the sea to spawn. This was welcomed by the UK Government and seen as representing an important step forward in addressing the decline in the European eel stock.

 

The UK has submitted 15 Eel Management Plans for individual assessment to the European Commission, covering the River Basin Districts, as defined under the Water Framework Directive, in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Following approval from the Commission and in accordance with the regulation, these plans will be implemented by 1 July 2009.

 

The Eel Management Plans have been drawn up by the relevant UK authorities with each of the devolved administrations; Environment Agency, The Scottish Government, Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure, and assessed by the appropriate scientific agencies.

Edited March 18, 2009 by barry luxton

[Mark7]

When you've addressed some of the real issues and done something about them, i.e, when you've got commercial fishing for elvers stopped, for example, come back and tell us and I might stop taking them home to eat.

 

Good afternoon Steve

 

We try, as best we can, to address the real issues. We would all like to see the end of commercial eel fishing, and will continue to lobby for that. There are many individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly over the years to achieve better conditions and treatment for many species of fish. Many of them have been succesful, quite often against tremendous opposition. Without exception, attitudes such as yours have not helped.

 

Regards

 

 

Mark

[Steve Coppolo]

Good afternoon Steve

 

We try, as best we can, to address the real issues. We would all like to see the end of commercial eel fishing, and will continue to lobby for that. There are many individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly over the years to achieve better conditions and treatment for many species of fish. Many of them have been succesful, quite often against tremendous opposition. Without exception, attitudes such as yours have not helped.

 

Regards

 

 

Mark

 

Well, people just get sick and tired of being the butt of specialist groups telling them what they should and shouldn't be doing to protect the stocks, and all the while, none of the things that are actually doing the damage get changed. To be honest, I sick to death of people having a go at anglers for no good reason.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Steve Coppolo

[wurzel]

Good afternoon Steve

 

We try, as best we can, to address the real issues. We would all like to see the end of commercial eel fishing, and will continue to lobby for that. There are many individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly over the years to achieve better conditions and treatment for many species of fish. Many of them have been succesful, quite often against tremendous opposition. Without exception, attitudes such as yours have not helped.

 

Regards

 

 

Mark

 

Hello Mark

 

I doubt it is possible to address the real issue even if there is one.

All I can say is I seem to be catching with out trying very hard a lot of eels for them to be on the brink of extinction.

I doubt that the level of the very highly regulated commercial eel fishery of this country has a noticeable effect on the eel population.

 

I was wondering, if the change in oceans currents mean they aren’t bringing the young eels here any more, then where are they taking them? and are they endangered there ?

[Dave Smith]

Hello Mark

 

I doubt it is possible to address the real issue even if there is one.

All I can say is I seem to be catching with out trying very hard a lot of eels for them to be on the brink of extinction.

I doubt that the level of the very highly regulated commercial eel fishery of this country has a noticeable effect on the eel population.

 

I was wondering, if the change in oceans currents mean they aren’t bringing the young eels here any more, then where are they taking them? and are they endangered there ?

 

 

It's always difficult to lobby anything which has a high monetary value. but we continue to push. Mark's not having a go at anglers, far from it we are anglers and need the support of anglers. as John pointed out on a different thread, the eel population isn't sustainable. if it where then nobody would begrudge a few Eels for the pot. Eels are a keystone in the ecology, without them many other animals will need to diversify to eating other things.... the otter being a prime example. there eating carp because there are no longer the stocks of eels that there was when the otter was last wild.

 

hopefully the EMP's will do something about that. It might be too late, but we live in hope.

 

the Eel has always got the shitty end of the stick, a foreign fish that spreads disease has a fortune spent on trying to protect it. another has millions of license payers money spent on it yet only a few ever get the chance to fish for them...

 

yet mention the plight of the eel and the majority scoff... maybe we need to think beyond the bivvy door...?

[Steve Coppolo]

It's always difficult to lobby anything which has a high monetary value. but we continue to push. Mark's not having a go at anglers, far from it we are anglers and need the support of anglers. as John pointed out on a different thread, the eel population isn't sustainable. if it where then nobody would begrudge a few Eels for the pot. Eels are a keystone in the ecology, without them many other animals will need to diversify to eating other things.... the otter being a prime example. there eating carp because there are no longer the stocks of eels that there was when the otter was last wild.

hopefully the EMP's will do something about that. It might be too late, but we live in hope.

 

the Eel has always got the shitty end of the stick, a foreign fish that spreads disease has a fortune spent on trying to protect it. another has millions of license payers money spent on it yet only a few ever get the chance to fish for them...

 

yet mention the plight of the eel and the majority scoff... maybe we need to think beyond the bivvy door...?

 

So we need more eels to provide cannon fodder for the otters - that have been reintroduced in areas they had previously vacated because there wasn't enough food - so that they won't eat carp? Yet it is not acceptable for anglers to take a few for the pot? How many eels does a single otter eat in a year? It seems to me that they present more of a risk to eel stocks than anglers. And that's not to mention those black things with the long necks.