Environmental, social and economic sustainability of European eel management Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Germany Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Germany Profundo, Netherlands AZTI Tecnalia, Spain EPTB Vilaine, France Fisheries Research Institute, Greece 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 1
The European eel life cycle 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 2
Recruitment collapse - North Sea 2.1% - Elsewhere Europe 10.1% EIFAAC/ICES/GFCM WGEEL, 2018 Glass eel recruitment in % of the mean of the years 1960 to 1979 (46 time series) 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 3
Measures against the Decline European Council Regulation for the recovery of the eel stock (2007) 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 B 0, the estimate without anthropogenic influences 60% of eels <12 cm reserved for restocking 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 4
Measures against the Decline Trade Restrictions 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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 5
Current map of Eel Management Units (EMUs) EIFAAC/ICES/GFCM WGEEL, 2018 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 6
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 7
Why is the advice based on the precautionary approach? 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 8
Reported commercial landings (Yellow and Silver eels combined) 2017 2.224 t EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL, 2017 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 9
Reported commercial landings (Yellow and Silver eels combined) 2017 2.224 t EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL, 2017 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 10
Countries reporting commercial yellow and silver eel landings to EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL, 2018 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 11
Reported glass eel landings 2017/2018: Commercial: 58.6 t Recreational: 2 t EIFAAC/ICES WGEEL, 2018 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 12
The European Glass Eel Market 193 mln. glass eels caught annually (compared to 6.1 mln. yellow and silver eels (2015 2017) Stocking Aquaculture Unknown Fate EIFAAC/ICES, 2011 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 13
Eel Stocking as a Measure for Stock Recovery? 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 14
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 postevaluated - 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 ) 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 15
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 17
Habitat loss and degradation Hydropower mortality Overexploitation Illegal fisheries and trade Contaminants Parasites and diseases 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 18
Habitat loss 18/02/2018 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 19
All the eel stages are exploited: Commercial fishery Only for Aquaculture Yellow & Silver Glass eel + Yellow & Silver Glass eel 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 20
All the eel stages are exploitet: Recreational fishery Yellow & Silver Glass eel 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 21
Glass eel illegal fishery and trade 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 22
Spanish glass eel fate: lack of traceability Table 6. Destine of the cached glass eels (kg) per EMU. NC: Not compiled. NR: not reported. 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 NC: Not compiled 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 23
2. The many different assessment methods and gaps of knowledge 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 24
Spanish Eel Management Units ES_Gali ES_Astu ES_Cant ES_Basq ES_Nava Miño international ES_Inner ES_Cata ES_Cast ES_Vale ES_Bale ES_Gali ES_Murc 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 25
Assesment methods for the escapement estimation Average eletrofishing productivity values extrapolated to the whole basin Reference values from the Rhone river Old fishing yield data. Not updated No current population 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 26
Feed the models! 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 27
Models are hungry, but. 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 28
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 29
3. The many different management levels and actors involved 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 30
European eel management 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 31
Many threats, many european regulations Threat River connectivity Habitat quality and contaminants Unsuistainable fishery Related Directives and Convections Water Framework Directive, Renewable Energies Directive, Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Directive of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora Common Fisheries Policy Illegal trade CITES, EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 32
Eel management in Spain: Many threats, many competent authorities Threat National Competent authority Regional Competent authority River connectivity Habitat quality and contaminants Suistainable fishery Hydrographic Confederations (Ministry for Ecological Transition) Hydrographic Confederations biodiversity managers (Ministry for Ecological Transition) Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Food, Water related regional authorities Water related regional authorities, biodiversity and hábitat related regional authorities 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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 33
Very complex management MANAGERS REGULATIONS STAKEHOLDERS
We need to improve coordination and strengthen cooperation! 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Estibaliz Díaz 35
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 37
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 38
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 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 39
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 40
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 41
Assessments of economic impacts Example fisheries scenario Economic data requirements for IA for total closures: Necessary data for assessment Availability for Germany Availability for Spain Marine and Freshwater Fisheries Catches/official landings EU/specific countries Earnings data Cost data Employment ICES WGEEL report Available with average prices for eel landings Not available or only in very few cases Limited availability (estimations from number of licenses possible) ICES WGEEL report Available with own estimation of average prices and in general terms, not by individual fisher. Only data that were obtained in a survey done in this project. Only for one region. No public statistics. Can be estimated from the licenses. It is not a FTE. Glass eel fishery Catches/official and unofficial landings n.a. ICES WGEEL report official landings. Unofficial landings are not available. Earnings data n.a. Available if average prices are calculated. Cost data n.a. No official data. There are some data from the survey done in this project. Employment n.a. Can be estimated from the licenses. Not data of FTE. Loss of revenues for eel fisheries in Europe about 50 mln. assuming an average price of 10 /kg (ICES landings data) 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 42
EUR (mln) Assessments of economic impacts Example part-time closure of installations More data available for installations example for France: 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 40 30 20 10 0 570,4 633,7 507,0 443,6 380,2 316,9 253,5 190,1 126,7 7,7 6,9 6,1 5,4 4,6 3,8 3,1 2,3 1,5 19,8 17,8 15,8 13,8 11,9 9,9 7,9 4,0 5,9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Weeks 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 TWh Estimated range of costs for bypasses up- and downstream 1,052 to 3,110 million Revenue Profit Power generation Closure of turbines during migration (yearly) 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 43
Assessments of economic impacts Example 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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 44
Challenges for economic impact assessments of eel management measures Phase 1: Definition of objectives and specification of options Scoping phase with strong stakeholder involvement Phase 2: Economic data collection esp. small scale fisheries (marine/fresh water) Phase 3: Analysis with likely economic impacts => feedback with stakeholders Phase 4: Presentation of the results Time needed: Approximately 18 Months 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 45
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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 46
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) 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Ralf Döring 47
Conclusions and Ways Forward Prof. Dr. Reinhold Hanel Thuenen Institute of Fisheries Ecology Bremerhaven, Germany 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 48
Conclusions 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 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 49
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 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 50
Stocking Conclusions 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 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 51
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 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 52
Illegal fisheries Conclusions 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. 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 53
Ways Forward Mortality Reduction of Eels in ALL Life Stages! 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 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 54
Thank you! 19/02/2019 PECH Workshop Eel Management Reinhold Hanel 55