ICES/EIFAC Working Group on Eels
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Advisory Committee on Fishery Management ICES CM 2003/ACFM:06 REPORT OF THE ICES/EIFAC Working Group on Eels Nantes, France 2–6 September 2002 This report is not to be quoted without prior consultation with the General Secretary. The document is a report of an expert group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the views of the Council. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer Palægade 2–4 DK–1261 Copenhagen K Denmark TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 TRENDS IN RECRUITMENT, FISHING YIELD, SOCIO-ECONOMICAL IMPLICATIONS............................. 2 2.1 Trends in recruitment...................................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Trends in stock and Yield ............................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Trends in re-stocking ...................................................................................................................................... 3 2.4 Trends in aquaculture...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 Socio-economic data trends ............................................................................................................................ 6 2.5.1 France ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2.5.2 Netherlands ....................................................................................................................................... 7 2.6 Improvement of the database for assessment of the European eel stock......................................................... 7 3 IMPACT OF EXPLOITATION ON SPAWNER ESCAPEMENT........................................................................... 9 3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Exploitation of glass eel.................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2.1 Adour ................................................................................................................................................ 9 3.2.2 Vilaine............................................................................................................................................. 10 3.2.2.1 Impact of glass eel exploitation on spawner production ................................................ 11 3.3 Exploitation of yellow eel............................................................................................................................. 11 3.4 Impact of silver eel fisheries ......................................................................................................................... 12 3.5 Conclusion on impact of exploitation on spawner escapement..................................................................... 14 4 DENSITY DEPENDENT PROCESSES IN THE CONTINENTAL LIFE STAGES ............................................. 15 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Migration in relation to stock density ........................................................................................................... 15 4.3 Sex ratio and stock density............................................................................................................................ 17 4.4 Mortality ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.5 Growth .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.6 Conclusion on density dependent processes ................................................................................................. 19 5 HABITAT LOSS ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 20 5.2 Dams ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 5.3 Hydropower stations and pumping stations .................................................................................................. 21 5.3.1 Damage and mortality at turbines and pumping stations ................................................................ 21 5.3.2 Damage and mortality by passage through the turbine................................................................... 21 5.3.3 Damage and mortality by passage through a pump ........................................................................ 22 5.3.4 Damages in the tailwater................................................................................................................. 22 5.3.5 Damages before the turbine and protection devices........................................................................ 22 5.3.6 Cumulative mortality ...................................................................................................................... 22 5.3.7 Hydropower generation and capacity: status, prospects and impacts on the European eel stock ... 23 5.4 Habitat loss ................................................................................................................................................... 23 5.5 Case studies................................................................................................................................................... 24 5.5.1 Villaine ........................................................................................................................................... 24 5.5.2 Garonne-Dordogne-Charente.......................................................................................................... 24 5.5.3 The Frémur ..................................................................................................................................... 26 5.5.4 The Meuse....................................................................................................................................... 28 5.5.5 The Rhine........................................................................................................................................ 29 5.5.6 North America ................................................................................................................................ 30 5.6 Conclusions on habitat loss........................................................................................................................... 31 6 REFERENCE CONDITIONS, EXPLOITATION AND HABITAT AVAILABILITY.......................................... 32 6.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 32 6.2 Reference conditions for northern type stocks.............................................................................................. 32 6.3 Southern type fisheries and stocks of growing eel........................................................................................ 34 6.4 Possible levels of habitat restoration targets ................................................................................................. 34 6.5 Use of stock density measures in definition of reference conditions ............................................................ 34 6.6 Conclusion on reference conditions.............................................................................................................. 35 7 EXPLOITATION VS. OTHER MEASURES ......................................................................................................... 36 7.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 36 7.2 Turbine mortality .......................................................................................................................................... 36 7.3 Habitat accessibility ...................................................................................................................................... 36 i Section Page 7.4 Predation ....................................................................................................................................................... 37 7.5 Restocking .................................................................................................................................................... 37 7.6 Conclusions on exploitation vs. other measures ..........................................................................................