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I have no idea if the eels will be listed as threatened or endangered. But as far as the process goes, the outcome could be published in the federal register any day, once published there is a 60-day public comment period before they are listed (or not).
However, the scientists who try to count eels do have enough data to show in the 2006 stock assessment that "things look pretty grim... there is or does seem to be a decline in abundance to near historical levels... managers should utilize a precautionary approach" (quoting eel scientist Matthew Cieri)
The Eel Management Board (ASMFC) has heard this and is in the process of coming up with new regulations - in fact they are meeting on this Monday January 29 to hear presentations on management options to reduce eel harvest. The agenda also says that the board will “Possibly Initiate Management Action.” The management options that will likely be presented are basically gear restrictions (smaller openings in eel pots) and 30-day closures by region to correspond with eel downstream migrations - their priority seems to be in protecting those fully mature eels that are trying to make their way out to sea to spawn and die.
The part the scientists and managers understand the least is how many eels are already being harvested, how much harvesting would need to be cut to increase eel population to a given population size, what that population size should be, if harvest should be reduced coastwide or in specific regions, and what effect harvest reductions will have, if any.
If you are concerned about protecting eels as striper forage, I'd recommend contacting the eel management board members and telling them you would like them to take a precautionary approach to reduce harvest as they have been advised by their scientists. You can find their contact info at the ASMFC website.
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Threaded Mode