A. PICCININI. EMP Italy 2013.pdf - Institute of Fisheries Management

Italian eel update: past problems and future solutions.
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
IFM European Eel Conference - Breaking Down Barriers - Fishmongers Hall. London June 25-27 th
Eel – Konrad Gesner – De Historia Aquatilium Animalium – XVI century – PARMA MUNICIPAL LIBRARY

ITALIAN EEL NATIONAL PLAN WAS
ADOPTED IN 2009
Italy decided to choice and create Eel Management
Units (EMU) which reflect the already existing
regional administrative unit or REGIONS:
9 key areas (Regions) declared interest to maintain
eel fisheries and to participate to the stock recovery
process:
‣ Lombardia
‣ Veneto
‣ Friuli Venezia Giulia Emilia
‣ Romagna
‣ Toscana
‣ Lazio
‣ Umbria
‣ Puglia
‣ Sardegna
In the remaining 11 Regions, TOTAL CLOSURE OF
THE FISHERIES (both recreational and
commercial) has been adopted

Regional plans for the release of the 40 % of silver eel, referring to the pristine stock
BIOMASS – (Tons)
700 tons of silver eels
Regional plans for the release of the 40 % of silver eel, referring to the pristine stock
PERCENTAGE – year 2022 to reach final goal

GLASS EEL FISHING
Accordingly to the national plan, each region
has a fixed quota of glass eels and authorises
professional fishermen to harvest glass eels.
A percentage of the quotas will be mandatorily
set aside for restocking in waters, as follows:
at least 35% of the authorised quota in 2010.
at least 45% of the authorised quota in 2011.
at least 55% of the authorised quota in 2012.
at least 60% of the authorised quota in 2013.
SILVER EEL ESCAPMENT
Reduction of professional fishing effort
Reduction of recreational fishing effort
Increase stocking
SILVER EEL ESCAPMENT
Lack of information among professional
and recreational fishermen.
2013 RESULT
For Tuscany 22 kg of glass eel caught
against a quota of 540 (Illegal fishing )
NO RELEASE OF SILVER EELS.
Main action is reduction of fishing effort.
No data available until now for the other
regions.

MAIN PROBLEMS IN EEL MANAGEMENT IN ITALY
‣Lack of coordination among Central Government/EMUs – Regions/Province
‣Lack of knowledge of the stakeholders (both commercial and recreational fishermen)
concerning the status of the eel stock, the existence of a recovery plan and related action to
be taken.
‣Lack of control of the “environmental police officers” for the respect of the eel recovery
plans.
‣Illegal fishing both glass eels and silver eels still very common.
‣REGION MAIN ACTION IS JUST RESTOCKING WITH ELVERS (POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM
RECREATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN – ILLEGAL TRADING OF ELVERS AND GLASS EELS).
‣NO ACTION TO REMOVE BARRIERS OR TO INCREASE SUITABLE HABITAT FOR EELS.

MAIN PROBLEM IN EEL
MANAGEMENT IN ITALY
No information about the eel stock in
the EMU-regions which did not prepare
the eel management plan.
Eel fishing is forbidden at all levels
(or supposed to be)
Half of the country is “out of
control” for the eel stock

Elvers or glass eels for restocking must come from certified fishermen
(SEG standard and protocol).
COMPLETE TRACEABILITY OF THE EELS MUST BE GRANTED AND PROVED
Public administration must ask for this, to reduce illegal fishing

EELS – HABITAT LOST IN ITALY

MONTEPESCALI
MONTEPESCALI
PICTURE VIEW IN XVIII CENTURY
LAND RECLAMATION FROM MIDDLE AGE TO THE XVIII CENTURY Y
REDUCED WETLANDS IN ITALY BUT IN LIMITED AREA

MALARIA (MARSH FEVER)
AREA IN ITALY IN 1932

WETLANDS AND COASTAL LAGOONS WERE
STILL DISTRIBUTED ALL AROUND ITALY
ALL SUITABLE AND EXCELLENT HABITAT FOR EELS
MIGRATION FROM AND TO THE SEA WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
YEAR 1920 - 1930

MALARIA AND EELS WERE STRICTLY
ASSOCIATED as we can still see in 2013.
MALARIA AREA (1932)
MAIN EEL
FISHERIES AREA
(2000)
EEL MANAGEMENT
UNIT (2013)

ROME
LATINA
HUGE WETLAND
PALUDI PONTINE (PONTINE MARSHES)

1800 – Paints from marshland area

1920 – Picture from the Pontine marshland

BENITO MUSSOLINI (DUCE OF ITALY) STARTED IN
1927 THE SO CALLED
“TOTAL LAND RECLAMATION PLAN”
AS PART OF THE PROPAGANDA OF THE REGIME
AND TO PREVENT MALARIA
An overview of the eel in the Italian waters
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
London Eel Festival 2013

BENITO MUSSOLINI (DUCE OF ITALY) MADE OF
THE RECLAMATION LAND PROJECT THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF HIS REGIME TO SHOW
POWER TO THE ITALIAN POPULATION

MARSHES IN THE 1920

TOWN OF LITTORIA (THEN CALLED LATINA) BUILT IN 1932
AFTER THE RECLAMATION LAND PROJECT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PREVIOUS MARSHLAND

ROME
LATINA
REMAINING WETLANDS

PONTINE MARSHES NOWDAYS
An overview of the eel in the Italian waters
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
London Eel Festival 2013

HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF HECTARES OF WETLAND AND MARSHES WERE
DESTROIED IN FEW YEARS ALL OVER ITALY (1925 – 1940)
HUGE HABITAT AND EELS (silver eels) LOST

JUST AN HYPOTHESIS
‣ The decrease in the glass eel recruitment after the 1940, can be related to the drop in silvers
eels from the Mediterranean sea after the reclamation land project in Italy and other south
European countries to prevent MALARIA
‣ Can this be a indirect prove of the importance of the Mediterranean eel stock to support the
European eel population

WETLAND AND MARSHES CAN NOT BROUGHT BACK BUT . . . . . .
WE CAN BREAK BARRIERS TO INCREASE THE SUITABLE HABITAT FOR THE EELS

BREAKING BARRIERS (for upstream and downstream migration) WILL BE THE KEY
PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE TOGETHER WITH A BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE STOCK

UNTIL NOW LESS THAN 10 EEL PASSES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN ITALY . . . . . WE HOPE
TO DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE BUT WE NEED THE SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT

Eel, spring in the Pontine marshes
Armando Piccinini
THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION

An overview of the eel in the Italian waters
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
London Eel Festival 2013

An overview of the eel in the Italian waters
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
London Eel Festival 2013

An overview of the eel in the Italian waters
Armando Piccinini – Academic Spin Off Gen Tech – Parma University
London Eel Festival 2013