Eel Moritorium

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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..................