Translation of an article published in the magazine of the DFV association (Deutscher – Fischerei Verband)
The eel fishing ban unilaterally disadvantages German fisheries.
Neighbouring countries are allowed to catch eels that German fishermen have to let swim. At a time when eel stocks are on the rise, the measure is insufficiently justified.
On 7 March, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) announced the new closed season for European eel in coastal waters. In the period from 15 September 2023 to 14 March 2024, a complete ban on eel fishing will apply in German marine waters. Recreational eel fishing is completely prohibited in these areas until 31 March 2024. The Ministry is thus implementing the EU regulation on fishing opportunities of 30 January 2023.
As stated in the press release, the closed season was set by the Ministry in consultation with the coastal Länder. The fishing industry associations were not invited to this consultation. This is a common practice of not inviting the communities the most affected, which is not in keeping with a democratic vision of the management of these resources.
However, in numerous interventions, the fishermen’s associations proposed a wide range of practical measures to improve the protection of eels.
It was already clear at the last consultation of the associations and the Landers in December 2022 that the expertise of the industry and its suggestions would no longer be taken into account. This was the German position on the Commission’s proposal for a 6-month fishing ban in coastal waters. The European Commission’s proposal was rejected by all the Länders and professional associations that were present. At that time, only the environmental associations and the Thünen Institute, the research department of the Federal Green Ministry, voted in favour of a 6-month fishing ban. Despite this strong opposition from the associations and Länders concerned, the German representatives at the Council meeting in Brussels actively campaigned for a 6-month fishing ban and finally got it through.
The successful implementation of eel management plans and the timely achievement of fisheries targets have gone completely unnoticed. Inland, too, no action has been taken: the turbines of hydroelectric power stations are allowed to continue chopping migrating eels.
The decision is so complex that its implementation in Article 13 of the EU Regulation on the fixing of fishing opportunities in the Member States is likely to lead to many disputes and will be difficult to enforce. At the September 2022 meeting, the Fisheries Commission had given assurances that eel protection measures would focus more on non-fishing related anthropogenic mortalities and that eel protection would be addressed in a comprehensive manner.
With the eel closed season now decided, the only constraints are again put on those who have worked hard for the implementation of the EU Eel Regulation with strong commitments from the fishing communities and spending money from the private sector over many years. The professional fishermen are asking: where is the much praised democracy in Germany if the first persons involved and concerned are not even heard while their lives are endangered without any question of compensation?
The Ministry’s press release also states that Germany has aligned its eel closure season in the Baltic Sea with that of its EU neighbours Denmark and Sweden. In both countries, however, eel fishing is prohibited from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. This is another two weeks during which German inshore fishermen are at a disadvantage compared to their Baltic Sea neighbours. They can now catch the fish we let swim for 2 weeks.
In the Mediterranean sea, when interpreting the regulation “Taking into account the migratory behaviour of eels when defining the closed season”, the economic and social consequences were, however, taken into account to some extent. In Germany, the month of the main eel migration period is included in the closed season because it is the most productive fishing period for the fisheries. The same applies to the glass eel fishery in France which, although still constrained by this new regulation, manages to limit the economic impact. Here too, you can open the fishery for one month during the main fishing season, if you then add this period to the closed season again.
With this decision, the Ministry is neglecting the successes achieved so far in the implementation of the multi-annual eel management plans that have to be developed and processed in accordance with the EU Eel Regulation. The latest implementation report on Eel Management Plans clearly indicated that the stock of yellow eel in inland waters has increased considerably. The latest research results from the National Research Institute of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also show that the stock of yellow eel has increased significantly in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea in recent years, as well as recruitment in the Baltic.
French glass eel fishermen also reported exceptional catches this year. According to fishermen, at the beginning of the year it was even possible to catch glass eels during the day (in some rivers where this is not usual), which is very rare and shows the importance of the glass eel migration that year.
It is known that the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) Eel Advisory Group has also had different assessments of the measures that have now been implemented.
In the field of fisheries, the question arises as to when ICES will finally take into account this proven positive trend, which fishermen have been observing for several years, in its expert assessments and give a realistic opinion to the Fisheries Commission.
Contact: Claus Ubl 0176 – 832 10 604