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The European Eel - A species under threat


chrisd1

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Would you elaborate on the bits I've higlighted in bold text, please? What restrictions are actually in place right now, and how many elvers have the EA bought so far? Or is this al still at proposal stage? Also, do you think that the EMP, (must admit this is the first I've heard of it), will fare any better than the BMP or the MMP? If so, why?

 

As for the rest of your post, get a life.

 

And if you really want to see the silliest post on the forums, re read what you wrote.

 

Good afternoon Steve

 

These may help you:

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries...mp/overview.pdf.

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/...-in-norway.html

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Hi Mark7 & Chrisd1

 

I notice that you have not posted many times before and think that maybe a more subtle approach to get your views on eels across and do the species some good may have been to do a posting on the correct way to handle and unhook eels and return them safely.

 

Most leisure and general coarse anglers who catch them do my accident and not design and I am sure many of them would welcome some good information on how to unhook and handle them. The first few times I caught eels as a kid were a nightmare for both me and the fish. If your wish is to try to encourage other anglers to help protect eel stocks educating the average coarse angler in handling techniques would be a good start.

 

Alienating other predator anglers by asking them to stop using eels as bait does your crusade no good at all. You will find that after "eel enthusiasts" Pike and Zander anglers take the most care with an eels they catch and give them the same care as their target species and I am sure that NAC members treat the Pike, Zander and Perch they catch with the same respect.

 

It is no wonder that the whole angling world does not get on and sits in its own little bunkers, when even Eel and Pike anglers can not agree and we are all lumped together as Predator Anglers.

 

Afternoon again Dales

 

We have posted this link many times on many forums, so here it is again.

 

http://www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk/unho...ndhandling.html

 

Hope it helps you and others. We have found in the past that we alienate less anglers than you might think, and strike a chord with a lot, and our posts have resulted in many positive comments and outcomes. We accept that some anglers will disagree with us, and carry on as they were, and strangely, these anglers are usually the most vociferous. There's a suprise :D

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Barking up the wrong tree springs to mind. As Chesters has said, a quick look at the elver fishery would do more good surly than to ask anglers to decist in using them for bait. How much bait can a kilo of elvers make? What with live bait bans.

 

Why try to restrict anglers in the grand scheme of things when it has taken the eu and all the hangers on over a decade to get something in writing set up to try and give protection to the specis. Thats where efforts and pressure need to be addressed as they are the key to success or not of the specis. Just like the cfp, it has taken many years to come to a conclusion that it is not fit for purpose, the amendments will take till 2012 to come on stream due to the paper shuffling, in the mean time.............

 

Afternoon Barry

 

We are barking up lots of different trees. The elver/ silver/yellow eel fishing "tree" is one of them, and using eels for bait is another. All our posts are intended to do is to create awareness, and this debate does just that. Our frustration at the "paper shuffling" is intense, but we keep at it because there is no other way to effect change. Fortunately, there is no paper shuffling involved in stopping using eels as bait. You just have to do it.

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Good afternoon Dales

 

No, I'm not suggesting that only NAC members should fish for eels, and I have not said that the rest of you should leave eels alone. I suggest that you look at my post again, and read what it says, rather than interpreting it in a way that suits your argument.

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark

 

I know you are not suggesting that others not fish for eels, but by encouraging "Predator Anglers" not to use eels as bait it's as good as saying that its ok for NAC members to use eels i.e fish for them but it's not ok for Pike anglers to use eels i.e for bait. Whether some one fishes for eels or uses them for bait, it will lead to a slight reduction in eel stocks. That's a fact, some will die from being caught and some will die as they are used for bait.

 

If Pike anglers did not use eels as bait, there would be a few more eels spared. However also if eel anglers did not fish for them there would also be a few more for the major fishing industry to exploit.

 

How can it be ok for NAC members to exploit the species but not others. I want to see eels and ALL fish stocks do well, but do not see that me using eel baits causes any more damage to stocks then others who fish for the species.

 

I honestly believe that neither Eel or Pike anglers fishing with rod and line have a major effect on eel populations and its other factors that need addressing.

 

You might find it strange, but as a bunch Predator anglers are fairly pro eel, but we do use a few.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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Afternoon again Dales

 

We have posted this link many times on many forums, so here it is again.

 

http://www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk/unho...ndhandling.html

 

Hope it helps you and others. We have found in the past that we alienate less anglers than you might think, and strike a chord with a lot, and our posts have resulted in many positive comments and outcomes. We accept that some anglers will disagree with us, and carry on as they were, and strangely, these anglers are usually the most vociferous. There's a suprise :D

 

Good stuff Mark

 

I'm sure many people will find it interesting and I would recommend it to any one with out experience of catching eels who may come across them by accident. To be honest I have seen it before and have had a look at your website many times before as while Piking there is all ways a chance of getting an eel.

 

I do wish you well with your eel campaign, but I will not be stopping using them as bait.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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First of all I'm not an eel angler or a predator angler, but one thing sticks out from what I've read on this thread.

Mark said, .

How low is "extremely low"? Is it 1%, 5%, or what? If the mortality rate is around these percentages for all the NAC members, how does it compare with the number that are used by predator anglers?

As I see it a group such as the NAC, can only put blame or partial blame on the actions of others, if their own actions result in zero moralities.

 

It's seems a case of glass houses and stone throwing, to me.

 

John.

 

Hi John

 

Impossible to quantify the mortality rate, as it is in any other branch of angling. Every eel that I have caught has been fine on it's return to the water, but that does not mean that they have not died later on. I have had, however, several repeat captures of very healthy big eels (identified from photo's, fin damage etc) some time apart, one of which was deep hooked on first capture. One season later this eel was slightly heavier, and seemingly none the worse for wear. Other eel anglers have also experienced repeat captures, but this is, of course, hardly concrete evidence. I also mentioned in an earlier post that eel anglers have kept deeply hooked eels in tanks and they have survived. We do know that more damage is caused by attempting to remove hooks that are deep, and we do urge the use of small barbless hooks because they can be dislodged easliy. It is a difficult area to speculate in, and I wish I had more convincing data to offer. However, the eel is remarkably robust, and in a previous post I mentioned that there is scientific evidence that eels do survive angling injuries. Much tougher, for example, than the pike, where we know that repeat captures and angling pressure invariably results in the demise of the fish if over a sustained period of time.

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I keep expecting some one from the "Lamprey Society" to muscle in on this debate. Do Lampreys have a society?

 

It's the use of Lamprey in my predator fishing that does give me some concern and not the use of eels. I do not use many eels as I find Lamprey a better bait in my fishing. Recently while fishing Bury Hill two anglers asked what bait had I been using as I caught and they did not. When I replied Lamprey they gave me the "lecture" and disapproving glare and when I asked what they were using it was eels. So do I reduce the amount of Lamprey and substitute it for eels? Or increase the amount of Lamprey and stop using eels. I see both these baits as substitutes for each other and would not use both at the same time.

 

Roach have been in decline in some areas, so should we all stop using them as bait to protect Roach stocks. Why are the Roach specialists not lecturing us to give up this bait source?

Edited by Dales

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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I'm unable to open the Defra link, it's asking for a password, but I can imagine what it reads like. Loads of buzz words and phrases but very little substance.

 

As for the other link, I suppose you think that what happens in other countries has some bearing on what will eventually happen over here? Otherwise why post a link about Norway banning Eel fishing? How do you feel about catch and release being banned in other countries? Would you like to see that happen over here, too? Where would that leave societies like yours - whose members practice catch and release exclusively and whose 'officers' want to impose their ideals on every other angler in the land?

 

I'm afraid your Eel fancying society, and it's plans, come across no different to other single species societies. If you succeed in getting Eel fishing banned in this country, and I hope you don't, what will your members fish for then? And will you then set about getting angling for that species banned, too?

DRUNK DRIVERS WRECK LIVES.

 

Don't drink and drive.

 

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I'm unable to open the Defra link, it's asking for a password, but I can imagine what it reads like. Loads of buzz words and phrases but very little substance.

 

As for the other link, I suppose you think that what happens in other countries has some bearing on what will eventually happen over here? Otherwise why post a link about Norway banning Eel fishing? How do you feel about catch and release being banned in other countries? Would you like to see that happen over here, too? Where would that leave societies like yours - whose members practice catch and release exclusively and whose 'officers' want to impose their ideals on every other angler in the land?

 

I'm afraid your Eel fancying society, and it's plans, come across no different to other single species societies. If you succeed in getting Eel fishing banned in this country, and I hope you don't, what will your members fish for then? And will you then set about getting angling for that species banned, too?

 

I can open the Defra link without a password. Perhaps you need one, because Defra have heard of you, and know that you are able to "imagine" what it reads like. Supernatural powers, eh :lol:

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I can open the Defra link without a password. Perhaps you need one, because Defra have heard of you, and know that you are able to "imagine" what it reads like. Supernatural powers, eh :lol:

 

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

Edited by Steve Coppolo

DRUNK DRIVERS WRECK LIVES.

 

Don't drink and drive.

 

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