Eel, European

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.

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 precise 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 commercial and sporting fisheries.

Eel is caught with FykeFyke:
A fishing technique where fish are attracted into a fyke. Fykes are pots or traps made of, for example, wire mesh. nets. this is a [passive fishing gear] and very selective: bottom impact and bycatch are not an issue in this fishery.

There is currently a fishing closure for the commercial fishery between September 1st and November 30th. In addition, Sportvisserij Nederland (Dutch recerational fishery organisation) has agreed with their members to a release obligation of all caught eels. There is also a fishing ban in several waters due to high dioxin concentrations in eel meat from caught in specific areas. Whether these measures to reduce the fishing presure of eel have an effect on the stock recovery is unkown. 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

Fish is in season when the spawning period has ended, as the quality is then at its best. This is however different for the European eel. The European eel only spawns once in its lifetime, after this the eel dies. Therefore the eel season is based on the fisheries closure, from September 1st untill November 30th.