Eel Law

[elton]

Just in case you've missed it, one line in the following article is worth noting:

New Coarse Fishing Byelaws Coming Into Force - NESA - North East Sea Angling - Sea Fishing UK

To protect threatened stocks, from 1 June all rod-caught eel and shad must be returned to the water alive, including when they are taken from estuaries and coastal waters.

[Mike.Haley]

Thanks for reminding us Elton.
I brought this up in April in the Boat Issues section, as Steve Capollo had done a good write-up about it in BFM. Apparently this was all backed by the Angling Trust who said all thier members were in favour of this ban. Any eel caught in the 6 mile limit must now be returned alive. Never really wanted to keep one, but think if you hook into a big one during a comp and it is the one that is going to win you that top prize.
What next? COD? BASS? MACKEREL?

[elton]

Eels are also (or is that 'were also') a favoured tope bait down here in the south.

Anyone wanting to comment directly to Richard Benyon, the new fisheries minister, can do so here:

How to contact Richard

It might be worth letting him know if you weren't consulted.

[<(Andy2009)>]

That sounds like a great idea, which would mean many eels could continue there epic migration to breed, meaning more eels to come

[elton]

That sounds like a great idea, which would mean many eels could continue there epic migration to breed, meaning more eels to come

Got to keep the elver fishery going, eh?

BBC News - Surprisingly good season for Severn elver fishermen

[SnaggedUpLad]

Cheer's Elton, I was suprised when I read up on there MASSIVE life cycle

[Mike.Haley]

I wrote to my MP about this which he brought up in parliment. I received a 5 page letter in reply pointing out that by banning recreational anglers from taking eels would help presereve future stocks. It was about as clear as mud. The only message I could make out from it all was that recreational anglers were banned from talking eels, yet commercial fishermen can still take as many as they like and elver fisheries can carry on taking them by the thousands. Seems a good way of preserving eel stocks. I THINK NOT.
The biggest shock about this is, all the data was provided by the Angling Trust who backed it and said ALL thier members were in favour of the ban.