Scientific Monitoring and Evaluation of Eel Stocking Programs in Brandenburg to Promote Sustainable Inland Fisheries

The objective of the project is to scientifically prepare, monitor, and evaluate eel restocking measures in the Brandenburg section of the Elbe River basin. This is intended to ensure that the extensive eel stocking measures lead to the best possible replenishment of the spawning stock of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Brandenburg, in accordance with the EU Eel Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1100/2007, EU 2007). To this end, it is necessary to expand knowledge of population dynamics (natural recruitment, stocking, survival rates, silver eel migration, etc.). Based on this, the modeling of eel population dynamics in the Elbe River basin will be further developed, and the effect of eel stocking measures on silver eel migration will be quantified. This will lay and expand the foundation for preparing the implementation reports for the eel management plans (Anonymous 2008) in accordance with the EU Eel Regulation in the Elbe and Oder river basins. The eel management plans, in turn, are aimed at conserving the species as a component of biodiversity in German inland waters and ensuring the sustainable use of eels in fisheries.

The European eel is a panmictic population (Als et al. 2011). Regional management measures must therefore also be assessed in terms of their impact on the overall eel population. Against this background, the proposed project also aims to develop a basis for assessing the benefits of eel restocking measures for the overall European eel stock. The objective is to optimise the benefits of inland restocking measures for the overall eel stock.

Photo: A young yellow eel in its natural habitat (Photo: J. Simon IfB)

Weiterhin zählt zu den Zielen des beantragten Vorhabens die Beratung von Akteuren der fischereilichen Praxis und Verwaltung zur nachhaltigen Bewirtschaftung von natürlichen Gewässern mit Aalbeständen. Dabei werden die im Rahmen des Vorhabens erzielten Ergebnisse und Erkenntnisse weitergegeben und sollen in die Konzipierung, Ausführung und Optimierung von praktischen Besatzmaßnahmen einfließen.

Photo: Weighing of the planned stocking quantity of farmeels before stocking (J. Simon IfB) 

Literature:

Als, T.D.; Hansen, M.M.; Maes, G.E.; Castonguay, M.; Riemann, L.; Aarestrup, K.; Munk, P.; Sparholt, H.; Hanel, R. & Bernatchez, L. (2011): All roads lead to home: panmixia of European eel in the Sargasso Sea. Molecular Ecology, 20: 1333-1346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05011.

Anonymus (2008): Aalbewirtschaftungspläne der deutschen Länder zur Umsetzung der EG - Verordnung Nr. 1100/2007 des Rates vom 18. September 2007 mit Maßnahmen zur Wiederauffüllung des Bestands des Europäischen Aals für die Flusseinzugsgebiete Eider, Elbe, Ems, Maas, Oder, Rhein, Schlei/Trave, Warnow/Peene und Weser. Verfügbar unter: http://www.portal-fischerei.de/fileadmin/redaktion/dokumente/fischerei/Bund/Bestandsmanagement/AalbewirtschaftungsplaeneLaender.pdf; zuletzt geprüft am 7. Oktober 2013.

EU (2007): Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel. Official Journal of the European Union L 248, 17–23.

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