eel fishing

[comanche 3,301]

Commercial elver fishing is the most likely cause of the decline in eels . The days when a few locals who were in the know took up a tump and could catch enough elvers close to the bank to supply the immediate area with pots of elvers are gone . In France boats costing over 100,ooo pounds were funded by the elver industry . Many of the elvers from our rivers are whisked off to stock European and Japanese fish farms as eels are in big demand as food in other countries and elvers are rare everywhere .

There is probably a reason that eels produce such massive numbers of young . They have to produce enough to allow for losses at sea and from natural predation . The millions of elvers cropped by man are not a "usable surplus "on an industrial scale . They are essential for the survival of the eel in viable numbers .

It takes 3500to 5000 elvers to make up a kilogram in weight. In 1976 nearly 800 tons (3 billion individuals!) came out of one French river to commercial interests ...(source T Fort).

As to the age and growth rate of eels there is a lot of specimen hunter's propaganda spread on the subject . Eels usually migrate back to their spawning grounds after only 8 to 16 years in freshwater or hanging round the coastline . It is quite possible that the really big specimens that turn up might actually be non breeders who for some reason lost the urge to move away .30 years is apparently not an unremarkable age for one of these landlocked eels and Fort reports an eel that had been kept as a pet in Sweden as living to 88 . Despite its age it was quite small. Eels might not be the fastest growing fish but fish farms often consider them big enought to harvest at only 2 years old . Killing the odd eel for tea -even a big eel-is not going to effect the future of the species but giving the billions of tiny elvers a bit of a respite just might.

I reckon we should all eat more carp anyway .

[mudd dog 128]

correct me if im wrong i was under the belief that an eel of 1 lb weight was maybe 3-4 yrs old ???

 

That is true mate.yes they are fantastic eating but due to their decline and a fantastic fish in their own right,i only feel in fair we protect this fish until hopefully their numbers are on the increase before we all decide to start taking a few for Tea

i believe we both have the best interest of eels at hand mate. though 'comanche' has made a fair point and worded it better than me. killing the odd eel for tea -even a big eel-is not going to effect the future of the species but giving the billions of tiny elvers a bit of a respite just might. i remember watching a documentary on tv last year and there were MEN not anglers or fishermen! a large amount of them in different areas trying to locate were very small elvers were apearing in rivers and catching them in nets as they were worth good money i know like myself you don't agree with this whatsoever. surey if eel are in decline, this needs to stop... so does eel traping and the setting off eel lines also.... from what i have seen and have inquired..there is a shortage. i know coarse anglers like ourselfs can help in a way though in my opinion on a large scale something drastic needs to be implimented for their welfair, personally i feel anglers are the least to blame for the decline

Edited June 20, 2010 by mudd dog