West Sutherland Elver Survey

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West Sutherland Elver Survey 2008 Questionnaires .............................................................................................................................. 31 Press releases and Questionnaires ...................................................................................... 31 General Response ................................................................................................................ 31 Elver fishing in Sutherland ................................................................................................... 31 Perceived Temporal changes in elver runs .......................................................................... 32 Perceived timing of elver runs and conditions for good runs ............................................. 32 Laxford Elver Run records .................................................................................................... 32 Yellow/Silver eels ................................................................................................................. 33 Perception of Impact of eels on rivers ................................................................................. 34 Discussion...................................................................................................................................... 35 Status of eels in Sutherland ................................................................................................. 35 What action needs to be taken locally?............................................................................... 37 References .................................................................................................................................... 38 Appendix: Elver run records on River Laxford 1993-1998 ............................................................ 41 Elver Recipe ................................................................................................................................... 43 3 West Sutherland Fisheries Trust
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY West Sutherland Elver Survey 2008 Elvers have been fished in Sutherland since the 1970’s to the present by a handful of fishers. Anecdotal evidence for elver declines reported in this survey supports the decline in elvers seen since the 1980’s throughout Europe. In the rest of Europe data indicates a continuing decline in recruitment to 1% at present and stock to around 10% at present, and that this decline will continue if no action is taken to restore eel stocks. In Scotland a lack of eel specific data or eel data covering the period between the 1970’s till present does not permit any rigorous analysis of the status of elver recruitment or eel stocks in general. Under these conditions application of the Precautionary Principle implies that all detrimental actions to eel stocks should be prohibited until suitable data can be gathered. Support should be given to Fisheries Research Services who are tasked with the development of a Scottish Eel Management Plan as directed by the European Community and a statistically appropriate monitoring program should be encouraged. West Highland eel have been identified as having potentially important genetic value to the panmictic European eel stock and potentially high biodiversity value to the highlands, though there is very little information on either of these aspects. Research on the genetic and biodiversity value of eels to the Highlands would raise the profile of eels and clearly demonstrate their value to the local public, Scotland and Europe. The cause for the initial decline in eel stocks initiating the decline in elvers has been suggested to be habitat loss, though additional negative impacts of pollution, climate change, overfishing and introduction of a parasite severely affect stocks. Increased fishing pressure on elvers caused by an increased demand for elvers in Asia in the 1990’s has been identified as causing increased pressure on eel stocks already in decline. Overwhelming evidence for the decline of eels elsewhere in Europe, problems detecting eel declines soon enough, lag phase between detection and recovery, inappropriate data collection and poor understanding of population dynamics, indicates that all causes for decline should be minimised. Eel Management Plans dictate that all forms of eel fishing should be stopped until 40% escapement of spawners (silver eels) can be clearly demonstrated. This should be achieved thorough new eel surveys and better coordination between Fisheries Trusts and Fisheries Research Services. 4 West Sutherland Fisheries Trust
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Page 9 and 10: LIFE HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN EEL Fi
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Page 41 and 42: http://www.rse.org.uk/govt_response
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West Sutherland Elver Survey

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