Brussels, Belgium (26 July 2024) – European Union proposals for the ‘Implementation of the Regulation establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel’ were circulated to policymakers in local, national, and European government today as part of a push to better consolidate and coordinate eel management efforts across Europe.

The latest guidance calls upon the Commission and the Member States to make full use of the Eel Regulation as the core policy for the management and long-term recovery of Europeaneel stocks; reaffirming that an approach which balances commercial and environmental drivers and considers the interconnectedness of policy developments in all parts of the European eel’s range remains ‘fit for purpose’, whilst acknowledging that there have been considerable delays in the revision process which must be addressed.

It highlights the important role that eel fisheries play in society, noting that commercial and recreational fishers have not only gathered data critical to conservation-led scientific research but served as guardians of marine and freshwater habitats, counteracting the worst effects of water engineering, habitat loss, and the illegal trade with East Asia.

And whilst it stops short in saying that further restrictions on fisheries are out of the question, it suggests that if any changes to policy do need to be made, they should  be based on the best available scientific advice and prior socio-economic impact assessments as opposed to ad hoc political decisions taken by European or national governments; and that compensation and support for fishers should be provided in line with the relevant provisions of the EuropeanMaritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund.

One of the most fundamental policy developments to come out of the guidance concerns cross-border Eel Management Plans. This is a mechanism which has thus far been underutilised by the Member States, but it is now being actively encouraged to ensure more bespoke, localised solutions for trans-border National Parks or drainage systems with uniquegeographical, ecologic, and socio-economic characteristics.

The Sustainable Eel Group welcomes the guidance as an important next step towards the eel’s recovery, and would like to indicate its willingness to support national governments and local stakeholders in developing effective strategies for the future of the fishery.