Eel Moritorium

[RI Popper]

Has anyone heard if the shortage in the eel population will be leading to some sort of moritorium? From what I understand there is a declining population that cannot support taking them too much longer for bait. Maybe some new lure choices need to come out rather than live eels? or does anyone have any ideas on alternate live baits? Surprizingly I've caught Stripers in Greenwhich cove on dead shiners. Just some Food for thought?

Armand

[Offshore]

US Fish & Wildlife service received a petitiion to list the American Eel as endangered. They are required to investigate it. As a part of that study they have asked NMFS and ASMFC and some state fisheries divisions to do a stock assessment. That is expected to be completed later this year and could cause them to list eels as threatened or endangered. If that happens, you will have a moratorium.

[janiejones]

Eels are slimy and shiny.

[Hooper]

I believe it. With the striper population explosion over the past 10 years, more and more people are fishing these days. Even the most novice striper fisherman knows that eels are great bass bait, particularly for big fish... no wonder they are in decline. Lots of guys buy eels by the pound, I haven't had a need for that many eels, but jeez, imagine what 5 pounds of eels would look like?

[slapshot]

I attended one of the public comment meetings in CT on eels that the ASMFC and the CTDEP put on. THe largest commercial processor of amercian eels spoke at this meeting. According to him the amount of eels sold for recreational fishing purposes is "miniscule" compared to the total amount processed. I asked him where they go, and his response was overseas - mostly europe, then asia.

If they could manage to keep the "American" eel in America, I don't think there would be a problem anymore. Let them eat European eels.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Originally Posted by slapshot

I attended one of the public comment meetings in CT on eels that the ASMFC and the CTDEP put on. THe largest commercial processor of amercian eels spoke at this meeting. According to him the amount of eels sold for recreational fishing purposes is "miniscule" compared to the total amount processed. I asked him where they go, and his response was overseas - mostly europe, then asia.

Now THAT... is interesting.

[MakoMike]

The ASMFC stock assessment is complete and it has gone through peer review. It will be discussed by the ASMFC management board at their February meeting. The stock assesment (which has not yet been released to the public) is reported to be so bleak that there is some talk of the ASMFC taking emergency action on eels, but nothing is on the table yet.

The USF&WS held its first workshop on the eels on late Nov. - early Dec, The minutes of the workshops are available on the USF&WS web site. (They are 84 pages long) They will be holding three more workshops between noe and sometime in the late spring/early summer. Any action they take to list the eels as either threatened or endangered likely won't have any effect until the 2007 fishing season.

You can read more in my Article in On The Water's January edition or on the Noreast website, there is a link on the homepage. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

[chief10]

Originally Posted by slapshot

I attended one of the public comment meetings in CT on eels that the ASMFC and the CTDEP put on. THe largest commercial processor of amercian eels spoke at this meeting. According to him the amount of eels sold for recreational fishing purposes is "miniscule" compared to the total amount processed. I asked him where they go, and his response was overseas - mostly europe, then asia.

If they could manage to keep the "American" eel in America, I don't think there would be a problem anymore. Let them eat European eels.

interesting. that's the first actual fact/evidence I've read about this situation.thank-you.

[Elmo]

Yup, proof that it is never really about common sense but only about political clout and stupidity. You watch, next year you and I will not be able to posses a single eel or herring but the commercial industry will barely have their quotas touched!

When the populations don't rebound the DMF will assume that it must be because the fishermen are poaching!!

ps I wonder what 5 thousand lbs of eels looks like

[RI Popper]

well Elmo it probably looks like the biggest bowl of spagetti you'll find, Now The questions are where will the cuts take place when it come to the eels. I'm assuming the will stop bait use first, then the Food source 2nd. Usually we get it first. by food source, I mean the eels sold and processsed for human consumption.

Mike, Do you know when we'll hear about trapping quota's for personal traps? Or will that only be the 2007 season?

Thanks,
Armand

[MakoMike]

Armand,
At one of their recent meeting the ASMFC's American eel management board passed a resolution that put bait eels and eels for human consumption on a par with each other. So we can be resonable sure that any restrictions will affect both uses equally.

Personal traps will probably also be regulated, but when I can only guess. If the ASMFC adopts an emergency action it will probably be to prohibit all possession of eels, for both personal and commercial use.

Btw- there is a hearing, ostensibly on the proposed reporting requirements for American eels catches to be held:
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
January 18, 2006; 6:00 PM
URI Narragansett Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Michelle Burnett at 401/423-1946

I would be willing to wager that, even if I can't make it, the discussion will go a lot further than the proposed reporting requirements.

[chief10]

what about posession of eels rigged on tin squids or rigged eels? after the moratorium is in place. did this come up?

[eelman]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Armand,
At one of their recent meeting the ASMFC's American eel management board passed a resolution that put bait eels and eels for human consumption on a par with each other.
.

Thats the dumbest thing I ever heard what are these people nuts? On par with each other?? They havent even done any real indepth studies yet?? Mindless idiots passing a resolution like that...God help us..90% of eels used for bait are used right here on the striper coast...Those "other" countries consume gazillions of them..not the same at all. Thats why the ASMFC Is made up of pencil pushers and political puppets.Jerks..........One man screams from the mountain that a certain area has no eels and now its a crisis, when the truth is there habits are shrouded and very hard to study..Study it for 5 years then make a decision.

This has gotton way to dramatic, over the top and out of control..And we have fools running the show.................A three ring circus.there will be eels in 2006 to fish with.I wonder how many lure company execs on the east coast are poking and proding the fire.You know they would love to see eels banned......

[MakoMike]

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&,
Some time ago the eel technical committee sugested a ban on the harvest of the adult, silver eels, but the Management board never acted on it. 99% of the eels caught in the wild and sold for food are silver eels. I think they thought they were doing fishermen a favor by putting bait use and food use on an equal footing. Otherwise it would be easy for some to say, hey they're only using them for bait, so close that fishery down first.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by chief10

what about posession of eels rigged on tin squids or rigged eels? after the moratorium is in place. did this come up?

Hasn't come up yet, that I know of. But if they ban possession of eels, any eel dead or alive will be illegal.

[chief10]

all you hear is the "sky is falling". with no proof to back it up. the addendum is a joke. asking rec. fisherman to help them shut down the fishery. do you think they will call to ask for your opinion when the eels come back. I doubt it. I agree with #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&. All the atricles I've read on this blames hydro dams or eel eating degenerates so why do rec. guys need to make a concession. tell the foreigners to slaughter some of their cows they've been worshipping for years.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&,
Some time ago the eel technical committee sugested a ban on the harvest of the adult, silver eels, but the Management board never acted on it. 99% of the eels caught in the wild and sold for food are silver eels. I think they thought they were doing fishermen a favor by putting bait use and food use on an equal footing. Otherwise it would be easy for some to say, hey they're only using them for bait, so close that fishery down first.

Maybe your right. Whatever the case the ASMFC is no different than any other political group, bunch of people who dont have a clue. They just have a way of screwing up everything.

Do people realize the black market that will exist?? It will take an act of congress to hire enough "eel police" !! While admirable if the eel is truly in decline, I see no possible way of keeping track.

what about canada? who is going to stop them from harvesting eels? I know they set a new size limit. I guess I need to learn more but so far its alot of "rush to judgement stuff".....

Well said Chief ! It may look like alot but, really most eels for bait are used in MA.RI,NY CT....Thats about the bulk of it and to narrow that down more its almost exlusive to striped bass fisherman. The real problem is the amount of eels consumed as food. "asking rec fisherman to help shut down the fishery " well thats called "bread and circus" they did that in rome 1000 years ago.

Its a joke, joke, joke with not one shred of hard proof either way! I want to see a ten year study by an independent agency funded by the goverment before any action is hastily made.. I want to see a full and complete study !

JOKE!

[eelman]

Originally Posted by slapshot

I attended one of the public comment meetings in CT on eels that the ASMFC and the CTDEP put on. THe largest commercial processor of amercian eels spoke at this meeting. According to him the amount of eels sold for recreational fishing purposes is "miniscule" compared to the total amount processed. I asked him where they go, and his response was overseas - mostly europe, then asia.

If they could manage to keep the "American" eel in America, I don't think there would be a problem anymore. Let them eat European eels.

EXACTLY..................

[chief10]

I hear ya. 10 year study. let someone else pay for it. In mass. you can take eels with a fresh water liscense. now there asking for another liscense. its BS. peta like. the state has been charging that for awhile now. where did that money go??? tonight I'm going to buy some eels , rig them this winter and disquise them as tax paying citizens. I'll never get caught.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

It may look like alot but, really most eels for bait are used in MA.RI,NY CT....Thats about the bulk of it and to narrow that down more its almost exlusive to striped bass fisherman.

I think it extends a lot further than you think. I know they use eels in ME, NH, DE, MD, VA & NC for stripers. as far as the other Atlantic coast states goes, they may not use them for stripers but they sure as hell use them for cobia fishing. I agree that it's unliekly that the fishery for bait eels is as big as the fishery for food eels, but I think it's a lot bigger than you do.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

I think it extends a lot further than you think. I know they use eels in ME, NH, DE, MD, VA & NC for stripers. as far as the other Atlantic coast states goes, they may not use them for stripers but they sure as hell use them for cobia fishing. I agree that it's unliekly that the fishery for bait eels is as big as the fishery for food eels, but I think it's a lot bigger than you do.

who knows? I still think many more studies need to happen before we lose eels............

[RI Popper]

WOW, I guess I opened a can of worms oops EEls with this thread. The prominent issue now would really seem to decipher which eel species or sizes are being damaged by Rec. Fishermen and try to make our voices known to the decision makers! We shouldn't get slammed for overeaters who don't like hamburgers. (LOL simplistic but funny) \

Now for the issue of Lure Manufacturers lobbying for ban on eels: Man I would never do that and believe it or not I sell thousands of lures a year. Heck, I use a lot of eels myself for fishing. My kids eat striper!

[SBASS1]

I've have the pleasure of knowing the man who supplies most of the northeast with eels from canada. He would get 3000lbs every two weeks, and we'd buy on average 25- 50 lb per week of that. It used to be 8 eels per pound now its and now it's more 5 to 6 with the new size limit. Economically, a moratoium will put a serious hurting on many local businesses, land based and water based.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

Thats the dumbest thing I ever heard what are these people nuts? On par with each other?? They havent even done any real indepth studies yet?? Mindless idiots passing a resolution like that...God help us..90% of eels used for bait are used right here on the striper coast...Those "other" countries consume gazillions of them..not the same at all. Thats why the ASMFC Is made up of pencil pushers and political puppets.Jerks..........One man screams from the mountain that a certain area has no eels and now its a crisis, when the truth is there habits are shrouded and very hard to study..Study it for 5 years then make a decision.

This has gotton way to dramatic, over the top and out of control..And we have fools running the show.................A three ring circus.there will be eels in 2006 to fish with.I wonder how many lure company execs on the east coast are poking and proding the fire.You know they would love to see eels banned......

Just for laughs #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&,lets pretend that a complete and total ban on eels becomes effective prior to this season's start. Have you yet considered the following:
1. Developing a short list of alternative screen names for use on this site? (plugman,sluggoman,flyman,boatman, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&forever, etc.)
2. What will your first resort be for catching fish?
3. If you end the season with limited sucess, is golf in your future?

[maddog]

Look at the post I did titled the eel man. It was written by John Sladewski in the Standard Times last week. It's all about Tim Watts and his efforts to save the eels, there you will find why the population of eels is the way it is today. If eels were used only by people who fish there would no discussion about them becoming endangered.

[Finaddict]

When I lived on the New Jersey coast back in 1994, the newspapers had constant reports of nets being strewn across the rivers when eel elvers would be born in the estuaries, those nets would catch millions of baby eels and all those baits would head over seas for the Asian markets. There was a lot of screaming by the recreational fishing community, but no action. Today, I wonder if those nets still block the estuaries in Southern Jersey, although there probably are not enough eels left for that market to target ...

[Mr. Sandman]

because if it does it you will not see another eel in your lifetime. Most creatures that get on the list...stay there for a LOOOOOONG time like 20 years +...ala plover, owl etc.

My question is, why are the results not public? Why are they hiding them. Did the public not pay for them? What is the big secret? It appears that this is buisness as usual and they need time to construct a story to explain them. IMO they should be embarressed. Here you have a numbers of fishery management groups that have been managing and watching over the species for decades and under this management, they are becomeing endangered. Does anyone else see something wrong with this? How about a pattern.....TO me, it seems to be going the same way as the Codfish, herring and the striped bass in the 80's.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Just for laughs #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&,lets pretend that a complete and total ban on eels becomes effective prior to this season's start. Have you yet considered the following:
1. Developing a short list of alternative screen names for use on this site? (plugman,sluggoman,flyman,boatman, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&forever, etc.)
2. What will your first resort be for catching fish?
3. If you end the season with limited sucess, is golf in your future?

I will still catch fish, I will use sluggos...I wont lose sleep. as for screen names, I will stick with what I have.................Why would I change it? I dont see the humor? Anyway thats it!

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Finaddict

When I lived on the New Jersey coast back in 1994, the newspapers had constant reports of nets being strewn across the rivers when eel elvers would be born in the estuaries, those nets would catch millions of baby eels and all those baits would head over seas for the Asian markets. There was a lot of screaming by the recreational fishing community, but no action. Today, I wonder if those nets still block the estuaries in Southern Jersey, although there probably are not enough eels left for that market to target ...

1st, the eels aren't born in the estuaries they are born in the open ocean and then they migrate inshore. 2nd, NJ no longer has an elever fishery, only two or three states do, NH and ME does and there may be one other. I don't have my notes handy.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

My question is, why are the results not public? Why are they hiding them. Did the public not pay for them? What is the big secret? It appears that this is buisness as usual and they need time to construct a story to explain them. IMO they should be embarressed. Here you have a numbers of fishery management groups that have been managing and watching over the species for decades and under this management, they are becomeing endangered. Does anyone else see something wrong with this? How about a pattern.....TO me, it seems to be going the same way as the Codfish, herring and the striped bass in the 80's.

Results of what? The minutes os the first USF&WS workshop on the eel are available on the USF&WS website. If it's the ASMFC stock assessment that you are talking about, it's simply because it hasn't been presented to the ASMFC's American Eel Management board yet. They ASMFC never releases a stock assessment to the public before it is presented to the appropriate management board. The next board meeting is in Feb. and the stock assessment and the related peer review should become available immediately afterward. With all of the research I have done for the articles I have never had the sense that anyone is trying to hide anything, in fact the staff of the ASMFC and the USF&WS have been very helpful.