European Eel alliance

European Eel Alliance

In 2018, the European Commission launched an external review of the eel regulation and GFCM began implementation of its multiannual management plan for eel fisheries. It had been more than 10 years since the adoption of the EU regulation. FishSec saw the need for renewed efforts to protect the European eel and has established a large pan-European network working for eel recovery as part of our project An alliance to save European eel.  

The long-term objective of the Alliance is the recovery and future sustainable exploitation of European eel. The informal Alliance consists of over 100 conservation staff across Europe and beyond. It has a core group coordinated by FishSec, with representatives from Italy/the Mediterranean, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the Baltic region. 

The Alliance’s main focus is to strengthen management and protection of European eel at all levels. We support the development of an international Action Plan under the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS). We want an improved EU management framework more in line with the overarching objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as new targets for biodiversity under the Green Deal. Moreover, the Alliance would like to see increased regional coordination for eel recovery, particularly in the Baltic Sea region (HELCOM) and the Mediterranean region (GFCM). 

 

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The project is funded by The Waterloo Foundation, with co-funding provided by the Swedish Authority for Water and Marine Management (SwAM). It is closely linked to our efforts in the Baltic region under BALTEEL-RECO.

Last updated: October 13, 2023