Environmental, social and economic sustainability of European eel … by... · 2019. 12. 17. · The European Glass Eel Market EIFAAC/ICES, 2011 Stocking Aquaculture Unknown Fate

19/02/2019 1PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Reinhold Hanel

Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Germany

Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Germany

Profundo, Netherlands

AZTI Tecnalia, Spain

EPTB Vilaine, France

Fisheries Research Institute, Greece

Environmental, social and economic

sustainability of European eel management

19/02/2019 PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Reinhold Hanel 2

The European eel life cycle


- North Sea 2.1%

- Elsewhere Europe 10.1%

EIFAAC/ICES/GFCM WGEEL, 2018

Recruitment collapse

Glass eel recruitment in % of the mean of the years 1960 to 1979

(46 time series)


European Council Regulation for the recovery of the

eel stock (2007)

Measures against the Decline

• Reduction of effort or catches by at least 50% in coastal

waters

• Eel Management Plans on river basin level

-» escapement of 40% of the silver eel biomass relative to B0,

the estimate without anthropogenic influences

• 60% of eels <12 cm reserved for restocking


• Since 2009: European eel listed under CITES Appendix II

(species that are not necessarily now threatened with

extinction, but that may become so unless trade is closely

controlled); together with Polar bear, Asian cobras, …

• Since 2010: Import and export ban at EU external borders

„Trade Restrictions“

Measures against the Decline


Current map of

Eel Management Units (EMUs)

EIFAAC/ICES/GFCM WGEEL,

2018


Advice of the International Council of the Exploration of

the Sea (ICES, 2018)

Precautionary Approach

- All anthropogenic impacts (fisheries at all stages,

hydropower, pollution) decreasing silver eel escapement be

reduced to zero

- Assess the net benefit of stocking (in terms of silver eel

escapement) prior to any stocking activities

ICES, November 2018


Why is the advice based on the precautionary

approach?


Reported commercial landings(Yellow and Silver eels combined)

2017

2.224 t

EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL, 2017


Reported commercial landings(Yellow and Silver eels combined)

2017

2.224 t



Countries reporting commercial yellow and silver eel

landings to EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL



2017/2018:

Commercial: 58.6 t

Recreational: 2 t


Reported glass eel landings


The European Glass Eel Market

EIFAAC/ICES, 2011

Stocking

Aquaculture

Unknown Fate

193 mln. glass eels caught annually

(compared to 6.1 mln. yellow and silver eels (2015 – 2017)


Eel Stocking as a Measure for Stock Recovery?


Management Problems

- Total landings and effort data incomplete (high level of IUU fishing)

- Inconsistencies in reporting and assessment by, and between, countries

- EC Regulation never evaluated for its conformity with the

precautionary approach

- Progress Reports of the EU Member States 2015 and 2018 not yet post-

evaluated

- Ongoing scientific debate of the value of eel stocking as a management

tool for stock recovery

- Lack of information (turbine mortality, habitat loss effects,

contaminants, climate change effect, illegal fishery and trade, economic

data… )

Why is eel management and assessment so

complicated - the Spanish case

Dra Estibaliz Díaz

AZTI. SPAIN

19/02/2019 PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Estibaliz Díaz 16


1. The numerous threats to the eel

in Spain


• Habitat loss and degradation

• Hydropower mortality

• Overexploitation

• Illegal fisheries and trade

• Contaminants

• Parasites and diseases

Habitat loss


https://mungiahistorianzehar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/portada.jpg

All the eel stages are exploited: Commercial

fishery


Glass eel

Glass eel + Yellow & Silver

Yellow & Silver

Only for Aquaculture

All the eel stages are exploitet: Recreational

fishery


Glass eel

Yellow & Silver

Glass eel illegal fishery and trade


Spanish glass eel fate: lack of traceability


Year EMU_code Catch (kg) Stocking (kg)Direct consumption

(kg)

Aquaculture

(kg)

2017 Es_MIño 1211 NC NC NC

2017 ES_Astu 3717 0.0 NC NC

2017 ES_Cant 325 0.0 NC NC

2017 ES_Basq 1511 0 1511 0

2017 ES_Cata 5270 NC NC NC

2017 ES_Vale 566 25 NC NC

Table 6. Destine of the cached glass eels (kg) per EMU. NC: Not compiled. NR: not reported.

NC: Not compiled


2. The many different assessment

methods and gaps of knowledge

Spanish Eel Management Units


ES_Nava

ES_Cast

ES_Inner

ES_Bale

ES_Cata

ES_Vale

ES_Gali

ES_Murc

ES_CantES_AstuES_Basq

ES_Gali

Miño international

Assesment methods for the escapement

estimation


No current population

Average eletrofishing productivity values

extrapolated to the whole basin

Old fishing yield data. Not updated

Reference values from the Rhone river

Feed the models!


Models are hungry, but….


https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-14110727-stock-footage-knowledge-gap-puzzle-piece-hole-training-education.html

What´s the problem?Table 12. Entrainment at water intakes mortality quantity SEE (kg) and rate in the

Spanish EMUs according to the 2018 post evaluation report.

pre-EMP 2011 2014 2017

EMU SEE ΣH SEE ΣH SEE ΣH SEE ΣH

ES_Anda ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

ES_Astu ND ND ND ND 49 0.001 57 0.002

ES_Bale 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

ES_Basq ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

ES_Cant ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

ES_Cast NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP

ES_Cata ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

ES_Gali 807 0.027 NC NC 705 0.019 705 0.054

ES_Inne 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

ES_Murc 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

ES_Nava ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

ES_Vale ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND



3. The many different management

levels and actors involved

European eel

management


Many threats, many european regulations


Threat Related Directives and Convections

River connectivity Water Framework Directive, Renewable Energies

Directive,

Habitat quality and

contaminants

Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy

Framework Directive, Directive of natural habitats and of

wild fauna and flora

Unsuistainable fishery Common Fisheries Policy

Illegal trade CITES, EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking


Threat National Competent authority Regional Competent authority

River

connectivity

Hydrographic Confederations

(Ministry for Ecological

Transition)

Water related regional authorities

Habitat quality

and

contaminants

Hydrographic Confederations

biodiversity managers (Ministry

for Ecological Transition)

Water related regional

authorities, biodiversity and

hábitat related regional

authorities

Suistainable

fishery

Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture

and Food,

Regional fishery managers,

regional fishery control forces

Illegal trade Internal Affairs Ministry

(SEPRONA), Ministry of Industry,

Trade and Tourism

(CITES administrative), (Ministry

for Ecological Transition (CITES

Scientific)

Regional fishery control forces

Eel management in Spain:

Many threats, many competent authorities

Very complex management

STAKEHOLDERS

MANAGERS

REGULATIONS

https://www.scoop.it/t/la-brecha-de-la-complejidad/?&tag=org2.0

We need to improve coordination and

strengthen cooperation!


http://www.google.es/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiNr7P96cLgAhW3AmMBHdbqCv4QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http://www.enfermeriaymascosas.com/2015/01/corresponsabilidad.html&psig=AOvVaw3eLtYKwqPn4izToZsw2vQd&ust=1550494939228731

Economic analysis of eel fisheries and

management – first assessments and

challenges

Dr. Ralf Döring

Thuenen Institute of Sea Fisheries

Bremerhaven, Germany

19/02/2019 PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Ralf Döring 36

Introduction and Background

• Environmental, social and economic impact assessment (IA) is a

standard instrument to inform decision makers for every new of

revised regulation

• There was no impact assessment for eel regulation(s) so far

• In this report we have collected available data for four countries

and analyse impacts of management measures as far as

possible


Introduction and Background

• Two main problems for IAs regarding eel fisheries and

management:

No information on feedback between management

measures and stock development => gains of restricted

fishing/reduced mortality in installations not known

Very limited and heterogenous economic data for small

scale coastal fisheries and freshwater fisheries

• Todays presentation includes results of the limited first

assessment and challenges for IAs


Assessments of economic impacts – some

general remarks

• Problem: Due to the unknown feedback between measures and stock

development we could not assess mid- to long-term gains or losses

• For the report we have identified available data and what data would

be needed – especially cost data is lacking

• In the report available data was used to partly assess impacts of

measures for installations and the loss of revenues in fisheries

• Analysis of adaptation strategies requires substantial effort for

interviews/focus groups

Comprehensive IA would help to assess cost-effective way to achieve

objective(s)

19/02/2019 39PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Ralf Döring

Assessments of economic impacts – fisheries

scenarios

Remark: Scenarios not based on biological information and in a way

extreme cases to detect consequences of measures

• Scenario 1: Total closure of yellow and silver eel fisheries, while a

limited glass eel fishery remains open to supply aquaculture and

processing facilities.

• Scenario 2: Total closure of the glass eel fishery and (as a

consequence) also cessation of restocking activities.

• Scenario 3: Total closure of eel fisheries for 5 years and

compensation of fishers.

• Scenario 4: Closure of recreational fisheries


Assessments of economic impacts –

installations scenarios

• Scenario 5: Part-time closure during migration period

• Scenario 6: Installation of fish ladders and bypasses

• Scenario 7: Trap and Truck


Assessments of economic impacts – Example

fisheries scenario

• Economic data requirements for IA for total closures:

• Loss of revenues for eel fisheries in Europe about 50 mln. €

assuming an average price of 10 €/kg (ICES landings data)


Necessarydataforassessment AvailabilityforGermany AvailabilityforSpain

MarineandFresh

water

Fisheries

Catches/officiallandingsEU/specificcountries ICESWGEELreport ICESWGEELreport

EarningsdataAvailablewithaveragepricesforeel

landings

Availablewithownestimationofaveragepricesandin

generalterms,notbyindividualfisher.

CostdataNotavailableoronlyinveryfew

cases

Onlydatathatwereobtainedinasurveydoneinthis

project.Onlyforoneregion.Nopublicstatistics.

EmploymentLimitedavailability(estimations

fromnumberoflicensespossible)Canbeestimatedfromthelicenses.ItisnotaFTE.

Glasseelfishery Catches/officialandunofficial

landingsn.a.

ICESWGEELreportofficiallandings.Unofficiallandings

arenotavailable.

Earningsdata n.a. Availableifaveragepricesarecalculated.

Costdata n.a.Noofficialdata.Therearesomedatafromthesurvey

doneinthisproject.

Employment n.a. Canbeestimatedfromthelicenses.NotdataofFTE.


part-time closure of installations

• More data available for installations – example for France:


Closure of turbines during migration (yearly)

Estimated range of costs for

bypasses up- and downstream

1,052 to 3,110 million €

126,7190,1

253,5316,9

380,2443,6

507,0570,4

633,7

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

TW

h

EU

R (

mln

)

Weeks

Revenue

4,0 5,97,9

9,911,9

13,815,8

17,819,8

1,52,3

3,13,8

4,65,4

6,16,9

7,7

0

2

4

6

8

0

10

20

30

40

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Profit Power generation


for indirect effects of total closure of eel fishery

• Aquaculture

Eel aquaculture totally dependent on glass eel fishery

Closure of glass eel fishery would basically shut down all

specialised farms or at least increase costs substantially

Revenues in 2017 were 37 mln. € in the EU


Challenges for economic impact assessments

of eel management measures


Phase 1: Definition of

objectives and

specification of

options

Phase 2: Economic

data collection esp.

small scale fisheries

(marine/fresh water)

Scoping phase with strong

stakeholder involvement

Phase 3: Analysis with

likely economic

impacts => feedback

with stakeholders

Phase 4: Presentation

of the results

Time needed: Approximately 18 Months

Conclusions and Outlook

• In this study we have identified what data is available and

would be needed for an impact assessment

• With available data limited assessment of the scenario of

total closure of fishery and installations scenarios

• Report discusses IA methodology and lists data collection

requirements especially for fisheries

• In France, for example, installing upstream and downstream

migration equipment could be cost-effective after two to five

years


Conclusions and Outlook

• Regional assessment would allow to identify the most

impacting dams for equipment with bypasses

• Strong stakeholder involvement necessary for e.g.

discussion of measures and assessment of impacts

=> Comprehensive IA may help to identify cost-effective

way to achieve objective(s) (measures for

fisheries and installations)



Prof. Dr. Reinhold Hanel

Thuenen Institute of Fisheries Ecology

Bremerhaven, Germany

Conclusions and Ways Forward

19/02/2019 49

Conclusions

PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Reinhold Hanel

• Implementation of management actions

• Coordination among different management levels

• Proper assessment of the effectiveness of management actions

• Scientific guidance, proper monitoring and ex-post-evaluation of

mitigation measures.

19/02/2019 50

Conclusions


• Impact of industrial river installations

• Proper assessment of eel mortality at hydropower plants according to

the individual characteristics of installations.

• Assessment of the efficiency of mitigation measures at barriers.

19/02/2019 51

Conclusions


• Stocking

• Critical evaluation of the value of stocking as a management action

• Stocking only where survival to silver eel escapement is high.

• Bypasses and trap-and-transport are beneficial, but should not justify

the continuation of eel stocking programmes upstream.

19/02/2019 52

Conclusions


• Economic data from fisheries

• Collection of economic data for companies involved in eel fisheries

• Economic impact assessment of all management actions (incl.

fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing and trading companies).

• However, a cost-benefit analysis is not possible because impacts of

management actions on the stock level are unknown.

19/02/2019 53

Conclusions


• Illegal fisheries

• Implementation of an international traceability system for glass eels to

follow the fate of catches.

• Improvement of the control of illegal eel fisheries by regional and

national enforcement agencies.

• Promotion of coordinated actions between the Member States’

enforcement agencies.

54

Ways Forward

• Revision of the EU Eel Regulation - mortality target instead of

the current 40% regional level escapement targets

• River continuity restoration (according to WFD)

• Reduction of fisheries related mortality (commercial and

recreational fisheries)

• Cessation of stocking upstream of hydropower plants

• Evaluation of stocking as an effective management action

Mortality Reduction of Eels in ALL Life Stages!

19/02/2019 PECH Workshop – Eel Management – Reinhold Hanel


Thank you!

Documents

Environmental, social and economic sustainability of European eel … by... · 2019. 12. 17. · The European Glass Eel Market EIFAAC/ICES, 2011 Stocking Aquaculture Unknown Fate