The cards were stacked against the 2015 Maine glass eel season, which saw harvesters fall short of their allowable quotas as the year wrapped on 31 April.
According to the American Eel Sustainability Association (AESA), the delayed start after a winter of record-breaking snowfall was the predominant reason fishers didn’t achieve their full potential. However, there is good to be gleaned from such low harvest numbers, the AESA contends – the quotas illustrate the strength of the precautionary management system established by the state of Maine and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
“It’s pretty clear that after such heavy snowfall this past winter, the glass eels arrived much later in the spring than they usually do,” said Matthew Probert, a member of AESA, an organization which promotes the long-term sustainability of the American eel through responsible fishery management. “Many eels are starting to show up now, even after the season has closed. But we’re not going to have a chance to catch them.”
As such, the low season numbers shouldn’t be read as an indication of low stocks or as a sign of poor recruitment.
“Even though fishermen are understandably disappointed by this season’s harvests, the glass eel market remains robust and demand remains strong,” said AESA director, Mitchell Feigenbaum, noting that glass eels were selling at an average of USD 2,000 (EUR 1,770) per pound this season. “With an established market and sustainable management, AESA is confident that the fishery maintains a strong foundation for a successful future.”
Typical limitations usually affecting the glass eel harvest include the strict, shortened season length as well as various gear hang-ups. A ban on fishing the middle third of the river and a prohibition on weekend fishing has also kept glass eel harvests modest. While these input controls may prove frustrating to industry fishers, they contribute significantly to the continued sustainability of the species, notes the AESA.
