the eel regulation and eel management plans christos theophilou european commission directorate...

The Eel Regulation and The Eel Regulation and Eel Management PlansEel Management Plans

Christos THEOPHILOUEuropean Commission

Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and FisheriesUnit A2: Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture

Living North Sea project launchMarch 26th 2010 Ghent

Eel Management PlansEel Management Plans 22

OUTLINEOUTLINE

Part I: Timeline of eventsPart I: Timeline of events

Part II: Content of Eel Management PlansPart II: Content of Eel Management Plans

Part III: Evaluation of Eel Management PlansPart III: Evaluation of Eel Management Plans

Part IV: State of PlayPart IV: State of Play

Part V: Glass Eel and CITESPart V: Glass Eel and CITES


Part I: TIMELINEPart I: TIMELINE

18 September 2007: Adoption of Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel

31 December 2008: Deadline for submission of EMP’s


TIMELINETIMELINE MS must report to the COM every 3 years (then every 6) on:

The % of biomass of silver eel escaping to the sea The level of fishing effort and reductions thereof The mortality caused by non-fisheries factors and the

reductions thereof The amount of glass eel caught and the % of these used

for different purposes (export, consumption, aquaculture, restocking etc.)

First report due on 31 June 2012.

• By 31 December 2013 the COM will report to EP and Council on the outcome of the implementation of EMP’s, up to that date.

• Based on the outcome of this report, the Commission may propose additional measures to ensure stock recovery.


Part II: Content of the EMP’sPart II: Content of the EMP’s

Each MS is required to submit an EMP for each eel river basin (or one covering its entire territory).

We’ve received 70 plans from 19 MS - more than 5,000 pages.

Member States were required to refer to the River Basin Districts established under the Water Framework Directive in order to draft their plans.


Goal of EMP: 40% of silver eel biomass must be Goal of EMP: 40% of silver eel biomass must be allowed to escape to the sea (or downstream) allowed to escape to the sea (or downstream)

This is difficultThis is difficult to calculate to calculate for most Member for most Member States due to lack of data. Models have been States due to lack of data. Models have been used to estimate pristine and actual used to estimate pristine and actual escapement.escapement.

Long-term objectiveLong-term objective – at least 2-3 eel – at least 2-3 eel generations. MS must give a timescale for generations. MS must give a timescale for reaching the 40% target.reaching the 40% target.

Content of the EMP’sContent of the EMP’s


Content of the EMP’s

Most EMP’s contain measures such as:Most EMP’s contain measures such as:- fishing effort reduction (commercial and recreational): - fishing effort reduction (commercial and recreational): limitations in seasons, gears, minimum landing sizes.limitations in seasons, gears, minimum landing sizes.- restocking measures- restocking measures

Not all MS have chosen to address obstacles as Not all MS have chosen to address obstacles as this is one of the costliest measures (demolition, this is one of the costliest measures (demolition, modification, construction of up/downstream modification, construction of up/downstream passes etc.)passes etc.)

Some have chosen trap-and-transport schemes Some have chosen trap-and-transport schemes to facilitate silver eel migration.to facilitate silver eel migration.


Part III: Evaluation of EMP’sPart III: Evaluation of EMP’s Step 1:Step 1: DG MARE has carried out an Admissibility Check of EMP’s for DG MARE has carried out an Admissibility Check of EMP’s for

conformity with Regulation 1100/2007.conformity with Regulation 1100/2007.

Step 2:Step 2: ICES (with support from EIFAC WG Eel) is carrying out the ICES (with support from EIFAC WG Eel) is carrying out the technical evaluation of the EMP’s to answer the following questions:technical evaluation of the EMP’s to answer the following questions:- Will 40% escapement be achieved?- Will 40% escapement be achieved?- How effective are the proposed measures?- How effective are the proposed measures?- Effectiveness of restocking? etc.- Effectiveness of restocking? etc.

Step 3:Step 3: The Commission proposes to approve/reject plans, taking ICES The Commission proposes to approve/reject plans, taking ICES advice into consideration. The Member States vote on this proposal advice into consideration. The Member States vote on this proposal (Comitology).(Comitology).

If the Commission takes a Decision to reject a plan, the Member State has 3 If the Commission takes a Decision to reject a plan, the Member State has 3 months to submit a revised one, otherwise a 50% reduction in fishing effort months to submit a revised one, otherwise a 50% reduction in fishing effort or catch must be implemented.or catch must be implemented.

EMP’s will be subject to modification / improvement in view of new scientific EMP’s will be subject to modification / improvement in view of new scientific info/data and changes in stock status.info/data and changes in stock status.


Part IV: State of PlayPart IV: State of Play

To date, the EMP’s of the following Member States have To date, the EMP’s of the following Member States have been adopted by the Commission: BE, CZ, DK, EE, FI, been adopted by the Commission: BE, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, IE, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SE.FR, IE, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SE.

DE and UK have received a positive vote by the Member DE and UK have received a positive vote by the Member States and will be adopted by the Commission in the States and will be adopted by the Commission in the coming days.coming days.

EL, ES, IT and PT are still under examination.EL, ES, IT and PT are still under examination.

BG and SI have submitted requests for exemption after BG and SI have submitted requests for exemption after the deadline. These requests were refused.the deadline. These requests were refused.


No. of plans Pages Language Status

BE 1 173 FR/NL Adopted 05.01.10

BG 0 - - Sanction – 50% in fishing

CZ 1 42 EN Adopted 30.11.09

DE 9 394 DE Vote 9.3.2010 –Adoption imminent

DK 1 75 EN Adopted 22.12.09

EE 1 26 EN Adopted 30.11.09

EL 1 59 EN Evaluation ongoing

ES 13 1460 ES Evaluation ongoing

FI 1 79 FI Vote 01.10 – Adoption imminent

FR 11 590 FR Adopted 15.2.10

IE 7 255 EN Adopted 23.07.09

IT 1 600 IT Evaluation ongoing

LT 1 112 LT Adopted 22.12.09

LU 1 107 DE Adopted 14.10.09

LV 1 95 EN Adopted 30.11.09

NL 1 47 EN Adopted 20.10.09

PL 1 88 EN Adopted 06.01.10

PT 1 101 PT Evaluation ongoing

SE 1 82 EN Adopted 14.10.09

SI 0 - - Sanction – 50% in fishing

UK 16 730 EN Vote 4.3.10– adoption imminent

TOTAL 70 plans from 19 MS 5000+ -- 11 Adopted


Part V: Glass Eel and CITESPart V: Glass Eel and CITES According to the Regulation, 60% of glass eel (<12cm

long) are to be used in restocking, for the purpose of increasing escapement of silver eel to the sea. (Start at 35%, reach 60% by 2013).

Evolution of market is uncertain.

Prices paid by Asian buyers are usually much higher than those paid by EU restockers. However, EFF support might help level the playing field.

The glass eel season in FR does not fully correspond to the restocking season in northern EU MS.


Glass Eel and CITESGlass Eel and CITES

Eel is listed on CITES Appendix II. This listing came into Eel is listed on CITES Appendix II. This listing came into force on 13 March 2009.force on 13 March 2009.

The Scientific Review Group for CITES debated for The Scientific Review Group for CITES debated for about 2 years before taking a decision regarding the about 2 years before taking a decision regarding the implementation of this listing.implementation of this listing.

An export quota on glass eel was established in 2009. An export quota on glass eel was established in 2009. For the 2009-2010 fishing season, the export quota for For the 2009-2010 fishing season, the export quota for FR is 14.5 tons. This will be reviewed by the CITES SRG FR is 14.5 tons. This will be reviewed by the CITES SRG in July 2010.in July 2010.


Glass Eel and CITESGlass Eel and CITES

Any Member State wishing to export glass eel Any Member State wishing to export glass eel can only do so once its EMP has been adopted can only do so once its EMP has been adopted by the Commission.by the Commission.

Only France and Spain have declared their Only France and Spain have declared their intention to export glass eel from the EU.intention to export glass eel from the EU.

Third countries wishing to export eel to the EU Third countries wishing to export eel to the EU must also demonstrate that such export does not must also demonstrate that such export does not harm the stock.harm the stock.

the eel regulation and eel management plans christos theophilou european commission directorate...

Documents

eel regulation

glass eel

eel generations

biomass of silver eel

silver eel biomass

silver eel migration

eel river basin

citeseel management