Catch limits may be put on freshwater eels

Eels are currently at risk of overfishing in NZ.

A new scientific report has set the agenda for public consultation about placing catch limits on both the shortfin and longfin freshwater eels. The longfin eel is endemic to in New Zealand.

It is ranked as 'at risk — declining' in the 2014 New Zealand Threat Classification System listings.

As well as being rare, the longfin eel are less able to cope with changes to their environment than their shorter-finned relative.

They are heavily affected by human activities such as pollution, dams, the loss of vegetation and changes to their habitat, and overfishing.

However, the shortfin eel is 'not threatened' and is found in New Zealand, Australia and some Pacific Islands.

But the longfin eel is still being fished in New Zealand.

A new scientific report has set the agenda for the ongoing public consultation about placing catch limits on both the shortfin and longfin freshwater eels in all quota management areas across the North Island.

Fisheries New Zealand inshore fisheries manager Steve Halley says the review was based on a new scientific assessment by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in 2017 for North Island eels.

"The scientific assessment has been reviewed through Fisheries New Zealand's science review process by independent experts, and we are now using that to look at how we manage this fishery. The latest scientific information is showing shortfin eel stocks in the North Island are at sustainable levels, so we are proposing no changes to the catch limits.

"There are two options for longfin eels; the first would keep the catch limits for each stock at its current level, while the second reduces catch limits across all North Island stocks."

Steve explained that this will take into account the biological vulnerability of longfin eels, and that some longfin eel stocks, while stable, may not be showing a clear increase in abundance.

"Following public consultation, we will provide the minister of fisheries with final advice so that any catch limit changes can be notified prior to the start of the new fishing year for eels, which is in October.

"We encourage people to share their views and have their say about our proposed changes," said Steve.

He said the consultation document and information about how people could have their say on the issue is available on the Fisheries New Zealand webpage:

https//www.mpi/govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations/review-of-north-island-eel-sustainability-measures-for-1-october-2018

Give the longfin a helping hand: avoid catching them, and if you do, return them to the water unharmed; fence stream banks to keep stock out; plant trees along stream banks to create shade and don't let pollutants enter waterways.