Eel, European
Europe, inland waters
Deelgebieden: Europe, inland waters
Recirculation aquaculture system (RAS)
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The European eel is not doing well. The eel stock has decreased dramatically and is listed on the IUCNIUCN:
International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an international institute for nature and natural resources. It is a partnership with both non-governmental organizations and governments. red list as critically endangered. Since 1980, the catches of eel in the Netherlands have decreased with 75% and the arrival of glass eel has decreased with 99%. The exact cause of the rapid decline of the eel stock is not known. ICESICES:
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, an international organization dedicated to research and advice for a sustainable use of the oceans. advises to minimalize the eel mortality by human causes. The decline of eel is among other things due to water contamination, and the increasing infrastructure (dams, pumping stations, and hydropower stations). The eel also suffered from the intense commercial and recreative fisheries.
Eel farms are dependent on wild caught glass eel (young eel). Because wild eel is critically endangered, farmed eel also always scores red on the VISwijzer.
The young, wild-caught eels are fattened in farms. A large amount of (fish) feed is needed for this. The farms use recirculation systems, a good aquaculture method because the water quality can be controlled precisely and there is no contamination of the environment. The aquaculture coupled with recovery programmes has no scientifically proven positive effect so there is still the advice to not consume eel – including eel with the “Sustainable Eel Fund” label.
According to a European enactment from 2007, the Eel Regulation, every member state must take drastic action for the recovery of the eel stock in Europe. This plan still allows fishery, as well as adult fish as on glass eel that is used in aquaculture, against the scientific advice. Also, only few member states have taken measures to remove eel migration barriers like dams and sluices.
Fishing season
This assessment concerns a farmed species. Seasonal information is not relevant when it comes to fish from aquaculture farms.