Eel surveys for North East rivers

Jul 2 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Jon Shelly, Newcastle-based Environment Agency environmental monitoring officer, said there were eel populations in the lower reaches of all North East rivers.

Eels have been found as a “by-product” of electro-fishing surveys of salmon and sea trout stocks.

Mr Shelley said that a major problem was that elvers were being exported to the Far East where they commanded high prices as a delicacy.

“The first step is to find out what populations we have in the North East and then work out how we can protect them,” he said.

Mr Chambers said: “We are looking at ways we can reverse the decline which includes a review of the country’s fishing byelaws and we want to hear people’s views.”

The Environment Agency’s proposed new byelaws include introducing an elver close season, preventing net fishing for elvers at vulnerable locations specifying eel and elver fishing methods and equipment prohibiting trawling for eels and elvers.