The Eels (England & Wales) Regulations 2009
Since the 1980’s, populations of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) have suffered a dramatic decline throughout their native range. This decline has been observed across all life stages including elvers, yellow and silver eel and the International Council for the Exploration of Sea (ICES) have stated that current stocks of eel are outside safe biological limits. Indeed current European stocks of glass eel are estimated as being less than 5% of the peak observed during the late 1970’s. The precise causes are still being evaluated but the following factors are all understood to be having a significant negative impact:
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Barriers to migration
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Entrainment and impingement at power station (and other) intakes
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Reduction in available freshwater habitat
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Pollution (e.g. PCBs)
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Over exploitation
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Parasites / disease (e.g. Anguillicola crassus)
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Changes in ocean currents and the Sargasso sea
In response to the perilous state of the eel population the European Community has proposed that a recovery plan be developed for the whole stock of European eel and that the impact of anthropogenic activities (e.g. exploitation) be reduced as much as possible. On 15th January 2010, the Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 came into force. These regulations afford new powers to the Environment Agency to implement measures for the recovery of European eel stocks and have important implications for operators of abstractions and discharges. To understand how these new regulations may affect your organisation download our information leaflet by clicking the pdf link below or contact a member of our team for an informal discussion.
APEM Ltd Brochure - Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.pdf
