The
endangered eel
The European eel is a migratory fish and is critically endangered - but there is still time!
by 97%
Save the eel
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a critically endangered fish, but we still have it in our waters and we can act now to save this unique fish. The decline of the species is so radical that scientist have called for a complete ban for all fisheries and to reduce all human induced mortality to zero. The eel stock is one single stock on the planet and they all start and end their lives in the same place, the Sargasso Sea in the south west corner of the north Atlantic. The amount of young fish actually reaching the Baltic waters after its first years in the Atlantic has declined by 97%!
CCB considers that active and legal fishery is highly questionable and that the known illegal fishery must be stopped. In fact CCB questions the fishery from a legal perspective as under the Common Fisheries Policy all stocks must be fished at MSY or Maximum Sustainable Yield and the eel is very far from that point. According to the rules all emergency measures including total ban of all fisheries is the appropriate measure in this case.
Furthermore, eel was in 2015 as the first fish ever included in the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS Convention or “Bonn Convention”) requiring Contracting Parties to take further and effective steps to secure the migration of the eel. CCB proposes to start by making sure that out migrating eels from the Baltic are secured and that all fishery therefore must be halted during that period.
All about the eel
The main threats
The European eel is one of the world’s most intriguing fish. Fossils suggest that eel has been around for over 70 million years, surviving the dinosaur era, several ice ages and other big climate changes, but now the eel is critically endangered mainly due to the following threats:
• Dams and hydropower turbines hinder migration and kill eels;
• Illegal fishing;
• Commercial and recreational fishing target eel migrating to spawning grounds;
• High parasite load;
• Strong vitamin B deficiency;
• Destroyed and decreasing amount of suitable freshwater habitats.
The mystery
If there ever was a fish to be called mysterious, it must be the eel. Nobody has ever seen an eel spawn and we don’t know exactly where they do so. We don’t know what makes them swim up freshwater rivers or what makes an eel turn into a male or female or how they find their way back to where they were born. The eel may quietly disappear in front of us without us knowing even the most basic facts about them.
Stop recreational fishing for European eel
The European eel is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Redlist and the main reason for this listing is that the stock has declined by 97%. There are still many eels out there but they are becoming increasingly lonely. The migrating fish we still catch and eat should remain in the water to rebuild the stock of this fantastic fish. We must at least give them a chance to embark on their marathon spawning migration.
The Baltic Sea region is of particular importance since most eels here grow into large females, crucial to the success of spawning. We cannot “farm” eels since we cannot unlock the secret of their spawning. All eels in aquaculture are actually caught as young eels and then raised in captivity.
5 reasons to avoid eating eel
- Eel is critically endangered, 97% is gone
- Fishing is targeting the migratory eel, stopping its spawning
- Extensive illegal fishing, don’t support it!
- Most eels contain high levels of toxic substances
- Again, this fish is critically endangered!
What can you do?
As an angler
Handle all eel carefully and release it.
As a consumer
Signal that you do not want to eat an endangered species!
As a chef, restaurant owner or fish monger
Consider alternatives or decide not to sell any eel at all.
At least demand information of where and by whom eel is caught, to avoid selling illegally caught eel.
As a manager or decision-maker
Protect the eel and increase the escapement from the Baltic Sea by stopping all fishing during migrations season and securing free migration routes.
Related publications
Reports
"THE UNHEALTHY EEL"
"FACTS ON EEL MORTALITIES AT HYDROPOWER STATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES AND COSTS FOR MITIGATION"
Baltic Talks about eel
For more information:
Nils Höglund, CCB Fisheries Policy Officer: nils.hoglund (at) ccb.se