Time to fight for Eels

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by timw

An important aspect of the current listing process is assessing threats to the species, and determining wether or not these threat issues are being addressed. The major threats appear to be habitat loss due to dams, hydro mortality, fishing pressure and an introduced swim bladder nematode. Currently nothing of significance is being done to address these threats. ASMFC has an opportunity to address the only threat which can be easily addressed, fishing mortality, they have apparently chose to duck and hide instead.

Not only is ASMFC hiding behind the listing process, they are hiding behind their own failure to gather species information since the Eel Management Board was established in 2000. Addendum 1 essentially says we haven’t done much of anything since 2000 so we can’t take any real action, but we are going to get serious about gathering data in the future. In the mean time the eel populations dwindle. The whole thing is reminiscent of a Monty Python Flying Circus skit.

This puts the Feds in a difficult position. If they determine the stocks are declining as much as they appear to be, and if none of the threats are being addressed as of next year at about this time, they will have to list them.

Another important aspect of this whole affair is that eels are completely different than any other managed species. There is only one spawning stock of American eel and they can’t be reproduced in captivity. If the populations drop to low there is no place to get more American eels, we may lose them.

You and Drugless are heathen eel lovin' sumanabitches!!!

[MakoMike]

TimW,
Is that you Tim Watts? Anyway, I don't think the ASMFC is d#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g the eel issue, yet. The current addendum was in the works long before the stock assessment came in. The stock assessment basically says that the eel is in deep trouble. The assessment is scheduled to go through the peer review process next week. Once that is done they may release the stock assessment to the public (I have an inside source on the technical committee). My problem with the current proposal is that it sets an expectation level that things will pretty much continue as before, and given the stock assesment that clear should not and will not be the case. Once teh stock assessment is peer reviewd and presented the managment board they, IMHO will have no choice but to move to an amendment to the FMP. I have spoken to several memebers of the management board who agree with that statement. But getting an amendment that will seriously restrict eel fishing is not going to be a speedy process. The best we can hope for is, IMHO something to take effect late next summer or fall. And the the entire ASMFC as well as the eel management board needs to feel the pressure from the public. They are already feeling the pressure form the commercial eels fishermen, reporesented by the Deleware valley fish company, that have been present at every technical committee and managment board meeting.