The eel in Europe remains so seriously threatened that Brussels is considering a total ban on fishing. The species cannot be saved with only management plans.
“The situation remains critical, I see no signs of recovery,” said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius in consultation with agriculture ministers. “If we don’t do anything, the next step is extermination. We must not let that happen.”
Sinkevicius attributes the decline of the eel by at least 90 percent to the ‘complex biology’ of the species and the many threats, ‘not related to fisheries’. More and more hydroelectric power stations, pumping stations and other obstacles in rivers prevent migration, the eel also suffers from climate change, water pollution, parasites and the cormorant.
“And on top of that is the illegal catch of 100 tons of glass eels that are exported to Asia,” said one of the ministers, referring to a recent Europol investigation. The Netherlands, for a long time one of the largest eel farmers, also has to use glass eels, raising the fish from the egg is not possible.
‘If the eel disappears, those jobs will also be gone’
Several ministers want more efforts to combat illegal catches. But according to Sinkevicius, based on scientific advice, the EU member states themselves will also have to step up their efforts. “Management is not enough, we need to get to zero catches in all habitats.”
The Commission certainly wants to take into account the socio-economic consequences (fishing, processing and marketing) in its proposals for further restrictions, but not indefinitely: “If the eel disappears, those jobs will also be gone.”
Sinkevicius reacted mainly to France, which made it clear that it would not just accept a fishing ban. Many other Member States seem to agree with this, because there is no other solution.
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