Schwerin (dpa / mv) – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister of Agriculture Till Backhaus (SPD) has criticized the restrictions on eel fishing decided on in the context of the fishing quotas for 2023. Along the coast and in the inner coastal waters with its Bodden, Wieken and in the Kleinen Haff, no eel may be purposefully caught or landed as by-catch for a total of six months. “This is a further tightening, first of all for the fishing companies, especially small coastal fisheries, which are already under massive pressure,” said Backhaus on Tuesday.
According to EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, there should be new protective measures for the European eel, which is threatened with extinction. The Commission had proposed a six-month grace period, which was extended by three months. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Germany also supported this. However, there is a certain amount of leeway in implementation. All year-round recreational fishing for eel in the relevant sea and coastal waters is also prohibited from 2023.
On Tuesday night, the EU countries agreed on strict protection of eels and catches for cod and other stocks in the north-east Atlantic. The regulations apply to the North Sea and sea and coastal waters of the EU, which fall under the regulatory scope of the Common Fisheries Policy of the Union. According to the Schwerin Ministry, the so-called inland waters, in which national regulations of the Member States apply, are not affected by this. The stock of the European eel has declined significantly over the past three decades.
