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Maine still has a spring elver season, mostly done with fyke nets. A few years back it was tightened up a bit and some permit restrictions were put in place. CCA Maine did a good job of making that happen.
Prices for elvers have also been down for several years, which has helped. Spring 05 the prices started rising again to over one hundred dollars a pound and fishing pressure increased along with poaching. I believe the only other states which have an elver season is Florida and South Carolina.
Eels have the most liberal regs of almost any coastal species. I have yet to find any science which justifies the lack of limits on these fish. It's just the way we have always done it so why change it. At least with other species they have some science, whether right or wrong, to back up the regs.
The ASMFC lack of action indicates that they are going to duck behind the Feds, and let them be the bad guys through the listing procces.
The following are quotes from the American Eel Fishery Management Plan Cooridinator regarding the state of eel stocks.
"You know, I think it's just coming to light now that this population is really in trouble and that there are things we should be doing about it," she says.
"My sense is that it's massive declines,"
When faced with massive declines doing nothing is a pretty lousy option.
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