In light of the delay, closure of the eel fishery on Lough Erne will be postponed until final approval of the UK's eel management plans has been confirmed.
Minister McCausland said: “I am committed to the implementation of measures to assist in the conservation of the European eel stock. It is also my priority that eel fishermen in Northern Ireland be allowed to continue to fish until such times as the European Commission give final approval to the measures we have proposed.
“I have received advice that the Commission did not consider the UK's eel management plans on 30 June 2009 as expected and will not be in a position to vote upon the UK submission again until 23 September 2009. In the interim I have decided to issue eligible Lough Erne eel fishermen with extensions to their permits which will allow traditional brown eel fishing to continue on Lough Erne.
The Minister concluded: “It is unfortunate that due to the fragility of the European eel stock, this historic way of life for fishermen on Lough Erne must change. However, the delay in the Commission's final decision means that Lough Erne fishermen can continue to fish through much of the 2009 season in the traditional way.”
The Department is committed to its responsibilities to conserve the European eel stock which is close to extinction. In order to achieve the requirements of the EU Eel Regulation 1100/2007, commercial fishing for brown eels must cease and be replaced by a conservation fishery for silver eels in an effort to re-build stocks in the longer term.
Notes to Editors:
1. The European eel stock has been in rapid decline since around 1980 and shows no sign of recovery. A number of causes have been suggested including changes in ocean climate, habitat loss, predation, hydroelectric turbine mortality, over-exploitation, pollution and parasites.
2. The European Commission adopted European Eel Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 on 18 September 2007 which aims to establish measures for the recovery of the European eel stock.
3. Member States were required to develop eel management plans. Northern Ireland submitted three eel management plans for its three river basin districts - North East; Neagh Bann and North West.
4. Collaborative scientific work in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has suggested that in order to comply with the Regulation, a cessation of commercial fishing for eel in the trans-boundary Erne catchment is necessary. Therefore the North West Eel Management Plan recommends that traditional eel fishing cease in the Erne catchment and be replaced by a conservation fishery to trap and transport mature silver eels around the hydro electric station at Ballyshannon. The Department is liaising with the fishermen affected.
5. The Neagh-Bann catchment includes the important Lough Neagh eel fishery. The Neagh Bann Eel Management Plan provides scientific evidence that the conservation target is being met due to prudent management of the fishery. The plan concludes that this fishery is sustainable and can continue at current levels of effort albeit under close regulation and subject to ongoing monitoring.
6. There are no eel fisheries in the North East catchment (Antrim and Down).
7. Copies of the UK's eel management plans can be found at 
http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/freshwater/fishman.htm
8. Press enquiries should be made to DCAL Press Office, Tel: 028 9051 5046 or by email to: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
