European eel
Anguilla anguilla
Biology
The European eel has an elongated, snake like body. The Maximum length reaches up to 122 cm in males and 133 in females. The European eel appears from Iceland and Norway to the African coasts, in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It is a carnivorous species with a special lifecycle. Young eels live in freshwater until they become sexually mature. Then they migrate to the sea, into their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea. Their larvae, which turn into so called glass-eels are brought back to coastal zones by the Gulf Stream where the cycle starts again.
Stock situation
The European Eel is listed as critical endangered. Since all eel stages, from juvenile glass eels up to mature eels are exploited, stock status is in an alarming state and all eel stages are at a historical minimum.
Ecological effects
The main catching method is via traps but also trawls, electric fishing, pots, hooks, pound nets and fyke nets are used. Due to the variety of eel-fishing gear proper information on by-catch rates is lacking.
Management
Wild catch management is not effective in recovery and a healthy productivity of the stock.
