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Eel Population.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Questions (257)

John Gormley

Question:

271 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the eel population here was reduced in recent years; the scale of the reduction; its causes; and his plans to deal with the problem. [14217/04]

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Written answers

The European eel is one of the truly indigenous freshwater fish species found in Ireland. It has been an integral part of life in rural communities for thousands of years. There is increasing scientific evidence presented at national and international levels of a serious and sustained decline in eel populations, not just in Ireland, but throughout Europe. At present the European eel stock is outside safe biological limits. Its collapse was variously attributed to anthropogenic factors such as over-fishing, pollution, obstacles to migrating eels, introduced Asian pathogens and to global environmental problems. Opinions differ on the relative importance of these factors.

The consensus view among European fishery scientists researching eel populations is that there is an urgent need to increase the numbers of potential spawning silver eel successfully migrating from European waters. An overall management programme for the species must also be achieved through implementation of various management measures at local and national levels.

On 2 October 2003 the European Commission adopted a communication on the development of a community action plan for the management of European eels in response to the advice. The Commission proposes that eel management be built up from a set of local actions to be put in place by the member states according to an agreed standard. These actions should ensure the survival and the migration of the eel in all its habitats.

There has been increasing awareness in Ireland of the value of eel fishing and considerable concern for the status of stocks here. My predecessor established the Irish eel review group to examine the activities of the industry and to arrive at clear, realistic and costed proposals for the sustainable development and regulation of the resource. Earlier this year it submitted a report to my Department. At present my Department is examining it. The recommendations shall be considered in the context of the European Commission's action plan for the management of the European eel resource.

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