The European Eel - A species under threat

[Mark7]

I couldn't find any absolute figures on eel consumption in Europe either on Google or within my literature. I have figures varying between 9-18,000 tonnes of adult eels p.a. but this includes their use as food, for re-stocking and for export outside the EU. No break down of figures I'm afraid.

 

To my knowledge, once out of the estuaries they utilise natural deep channels etc. to reach deep water thus making them a difficult target to catch using nets anyway. The estuaries are the areas that they are/were trawled.

 

Some of these strategies have actually been implemented already with limits on exports recently introduced (under CITES), restrictions on catching in Holland and I believe some Scandinavian countries. Re-introduction of elvers is already happening this is set to increase to 60% of total catches by 2013!

 

Overall, eel management plans seem to be achieving something positive. Restrictions on recreational angling are on the cards as well so the NAC might become a historical club!

 

I know you have a hatred for all things official but commonsense and a lot of work by scientists/ecologists etc appears to be having a hand in producing some very sensible legislation to protect eels (and many other species).

 

I, along with a number of others took the original post on this subject as condescending, patronising and not a little insulting. Perhaps the new legislation might affect the NAC more than they realise. As a group though (not that you'd believe it from this thread) anglers can only improve their stature amongst the non-angling public by being seen to make an example by taking the lead.

 

It is my understanding that the bulk of elver catches in recent years has gone to Lough Neagh for stocking purposes. We hope that the bulk of elver catches in future will be used to restock in the UK under the EMPs. The proposed restrictions on recreational eel fishing in the UK are that catch and release is practised. We continue to work with the EA to ensure that our catch and release status is appreciated, and also to ensure that we do not become a historical club. I am sorry that you found our original post condescending, patronising and not a little insulting. It was not intended in that way, and even now it reads pretty well to me, I think-informative and polite I am pleased that it sparked a lively debate, and with 704 views so far, I am sure that it has helped to highlight the plight of the eel.

Edited November 7, 2009 by Mark7

[Leon Roskilly]

Hi Leon

 

Is there anything you don't use circle hooks for?

 

Oh! Lots

 

(Too many to list really!)

 

 

I generally only use them when the risk of deep-hooking is quite high, or it's possibly difficult to time the right moment to set the hook, and when their use is efficient.

 

 

Pike, perch and bass at the moment, but I'm told that my self-hooking livebait rigs for fishing whiting at distance could benefit from using circle hooks, at least on the baited hook, and I will be giving them a go when fishing for thornbacks and smooth-hounds next summer.

 

It's all part of the learning curve, with experimentation leading to incremental improvements in all aspects of my angling.

 

(I've been at it nearly 60 years now, and it seems that the more I learn and find out, the more I still have to both learn and unlearn (or even re-discover) and how things experienced in one discipline can enlighten my approach in other disciplines).

 

The day I stop trying new things is probably when I finally get bored with fishing and look for something else to do.

Edited November 7, 2009 by Leon Roskilly

[Steve Coppolo]

Oh! Lots

 

(Too many to list really!)

 

 

I generally only use them when the risk of deep-hooking is quite high, or it's possibly difficult to time the right moment to set the hook, and when their use is efficient.

 

 

Pike, perch and bass at the moment, but I'm told that my self-hooking livebait rigs for fishing whiting at distance could benefit from using circle hooks, at least on the baited hook, and I will be giving them a go when fishing for thornbacks and smooth-hounds next summer.

It's all part of the learning curve, with experimentation leading to incremental improvements in all aspects of my angling.

 

(I've been at it nearly 60 years now, and it seems that the more I learn and find out, the more I still have to both learn and unlearn (or even re-discover) and how things experienced in one discipline can enlighten my approach in other disciplines).

 

The day I stop trying new things is probably when I finally get bored with fishing and look for something else to do.

 

Here's a picture of a smoothound that Elton caught on my boat a couple of years ago. He was trying out some big circle hooks that he'd been given. As you can see, the fish is hooked squarely in the shark equivalent of the scissors.

 

 

What the picture doesn't show, however, is that the hook had turned into the fishes eye socket from the inside and by the time the fish was on the boat, the point of the hook was coming out of it's eye.

 

I haven't known anyone to try circle hooks for Thornbacks, but I wouldn't imagine they would work too well, given the shape of a Ray's mouth and the way they settle to eat the bait. Even if you managed to stick a hook into one, I think it would be a hell of a job getting it out.

[Leon Roskilly]

Netherlands researchers clone Eels

 

 

That's the headline in Fishing News.

 

But as I understand it, it's not cloning, but it is stimulating eel reproduction under laboratory conditions.

 

The work has been carried out at Leiden university (a town where I once worked for 9 months, commuting in by air on Monday morning and home again for the weekend!).

 

There's some interesting papers on the Leiden eel research on the net (google).

 

(Did you know that male eels mature as a result of swimming?)

 

Maybe the scientists are at last on the verge of finding a way to populate eel-farms (and other waters), without taking elvers from the wild.

[Leon Roskilly]

Here's a book

 

http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/book.html?id=357

[david t]

Hello all,

skimming through the posts, it appears people are scuffling amongst each other on occasion, over the subject of recreational fishing for eels and their decline. I think this is missing the point a little, firstly, the old antis do enough scuffling over the subject of recreational fishing, but secondly, there is a larger point............

 

I think much of the problem behind reduced eel recruitment is not fishing related, but rather pollution related. It is this that you should focus on.

 

I know there have been a few papers written on the subject of heavy metal accumulation in eel fat reserves, metals such as cadmium and zinc. These effect the energy resources of eels, by acting as hormone mimic, fooling the eels endocrine system into thinking it is supposed to put more energy more into reproduction etc. I am only familar with a small amount of the literature on eel threats, in an academic sense, but I know the problem isnt based on over fishing. Look at these links, rather than thinking its due to angling practices, with all due respect. Look mainly at first and last links

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...1b5912c9917894e

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...f6eb3dcd414bf95

 

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp...000010/art00039

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...cc8e54bb555927d

 

http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/cont...tract/64/7/1368

 

http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps2003/254/m254p307.pdf

 

If your interested search in Google Scholar, under the terms 'european eel management OR threats OR heavy metals'

 

Cheers

Dave

[Mark7]

Hello all,

skimming through the posts, it appears people are scuffling amongst each other on occasion, over the subject of recreational fishing for eels and their decline. I think this is missing the point a little, firstly, the old antis do enough scuffling over the subject of recreational fishing, but secondly, there is a larger point............

 

I think much of the problem behind reduced eel recruitment is not fishing related, but rather pollution related. It is this that you should focus on.

 

I know there have been a few papers written on the subject of heavy metal accumulation in eel fat reserves, metals such as cadmium and zinc. These effect the energy resources of eels, by acting as hormone mimic, fooling the eels endocrine system into thinking it is supposed to put more energy more into reproduction etc. I am only familar with a small amount of the literature on eel threats, in an academic sense, but I know the problem isnt based on over fishing. Look at these links, rather than thinking its due to angling practices, with all due respect. Look mainly at first and last links

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...1b5912c9917894e

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...f6eb3dcd414bf95

 

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp...000010/art00039

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...cc8e54bb555927d

 

http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/cont...tract/64/7/1368

 

http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps2003/254/m254p307.pdf

 

If your interested search in Google Scholar, under the terms 'european eel management OR threats OR heavy metals'

 

Cheers

Dave

 

Good morning Dave

 

Pollution is certainly one of the factors influencing the decline in eel stocks, and I highlighted this, along with other issues, in my post part way down page 3, also explaining our thinking on the use of eels as bait. The problem needs to be tackled on many fronts.

 

Regards

 

 

Mark Salt

[david t]

Cheers Mark,

 

I suspected that someone might have already slightly covered pollution, as i only really read the first two or so pages properly.

 

I bet the whole climate change thing has something to do with it too. A rather big kettle of fish all in all, pardon the pun!

 

Cheers

Dave

[Mark7]

Cheers Mark,

 

I suspected that someone might have already slightly covered pollution, as i only really read the first two or so pages properly.

 

I bet the whole climate change thing has something to do with it too. A rather big kettle of fish all in all, pardon the pun!

 

Cheers

Dave

 

Yes Dave, I believe I mentioned North Atlantic Oscillation and climate change as well. The factors affecting the eel are daunting, to say the least.

[captain cojones]

10 to 15cm elvers were 780€ a kilo this morning at Santander fish market. not many can afford those prices.

A serving is 100 grams, thats 78€ a plate, just to buy them. No idea what the restaurant price would be.

I wouldnt have thought that many people are eating the wild ones at those prices.