Shrinking habitats in inland waters have been devastating for European eels. If this is not remedied, the eel population’s chances of recovering will decrease, write six eel researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in a final remark.

“In their debate response, three researchers at the Baltic Sea Center share our proposals to improve the passage of migratory fish upstream and downstream past hydropower plants in Sweden and in the eel’s other distribution area. It is good.

On the other hand, we question the reasoning that the majority of all eels in Sweden grow up along the coast. The fact that eels stop at the coast is due to the fact that so many of its hiking trails to inland waters are blocked. Historical sources show that the eel has been very numerous in almost all inland waters in Sweden and in the rest of the transcontinental distribution area.”

Read the full article in Swedish on altinget.se 

Article translated into English below

Slutreplik: Inlandsvattnen livsavgörande för ålen

Krympta livsmiljöer i inlandsvattnen har varit förödande för den europeiska ålen. Om inte detta åtgärdas så minskar ålpopulationens chanser att återhämta sig, skriver sex ålforskare vid Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) i en slutreplik.

---

Debate

Final remark: Inland waters crucial for eel

Shrinking habitats in inland waters have been devastating for European eels. If this is not remedied, the eel population’s chances of recovering will decrease, write six eel researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in a final remark.

In their debate response, three researchers at the Baltic Sea Center share our proposals to improve the passage of migratory fish upstream and downstream past hydropower plants in Sweden and in the eel’s other distribution area. It is good.

On the other hand, we question the reasoning that the majority of all eels in Sweden grow up along the coast. The fact that eels stop at the coast is due to the fact that so many of its hiking trails to inland waters are blocked. Historical sources show that the eel has been very numerous in almost all inland waters in Sweden and in the rest of the transcontinental distribution area.

Eels die below obstacles to migration

The debate answer’s calculation example also does not include all the uncounted eels that die below the obstacle to migration, because they cannot migrate further upwards. Instead, our counter-debaters’ main solution to the eel issue seems to be to ban eel fishing immediately. We note that eel fishing is already well on its way to being phased out. The problem we point out in our article, which has been highlighted in the media in recent weeks, is to make the inland waters in Sweden and abroad where the eel has its natural range.

“A short-term solution”

Relying entirely on the coast as a breeding ground for future eel stocks is a short-term solution that does not take into account the eel’s natural distribution, or its biodiversity value. The three researchers at the Baltic Sea Center obviously thereby accept a complete loss of eel and a reduced biodiversity in our inland waters.

The value of all eels’ habitats in the entire distribution area must instead be highlighted, and solutions that have the potential to provide a strong eel stock for all time should be given priority.

All debaters:
Andreas Bryhn
Professor SLU
Josefin Sundin
Associate Professor SLU
Håkan Wickström,
PhD SLU
Niklas Sjöberg
PhD SLU
Willem Dekker
, Ph.D. SLU
Rob van Gemert
PhD SLU