With only a few per cent left of the European eel population, EU Ministers finally agreed on a joint management plan today.
The European Management plan on eel was proposed by the European Commission in October 2005, and has been debated off and on since then. Efforts to find agreement intensified early this year with the beginning of the German Presidency.
– With only a few per cent of the original population left, this is probably the last chance for the eel to recover. A major decision was taken today and we can only hope that it is not too late! says Marie Åkesson at FISH. It will take decades until any progress will be visible and only then will we know if the agreed measures were sufficient.
The agreed plan consists of several different components. The main target of the eel recovery plan is to enable 40 per cent escapement of silver eel, so that they can return to the Sargasso Sea to reproduce. All Member States have to develop a national management plan on eel, showing how to accomplish this, before the end of 2008. The plans will have to be approved by the European Commission and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF) and then implemented within six months.
During the last 15 years, most of the glass eel catches have been exported to Asia for aquaculture and consumption. But from January 2009, 35 per cent of the glass eel and elver catches that are smaller than 12 cm will have to be used for re-stocking within Europe. That percentage will increase every year until it finally reaches 60 per cent in 2013 at the latest.
Using the glass eels for re-stocking within Europe, it will contribute to the adult population and hopefully increases spawning and recruitment in the future.
The real challenge is to develop well-working management plans, that can be monitored and evaluated on all levels. Many questions remain to be answered before management measures can be fully implemented.
– Keeping in mind that it has taken 30 years to come this far, 1,5 years feels like a short time to find sustainable solutions, says Marie Åkesson. It is a great political, as well as a scientific, challenge and cooperation from all stakeholders will be required if we are to succeed.
Today’s decision is a step in the right direction and in the long term it gives the eel and the commercial interests depending on it a chance to survive and hopefully recover.