Managing eel fisheries for sustainable use in the Netherlands with netVISwerk

 

The organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship

 

netVISwerk is the interest group for small coastal and inland fisheries in the Netherlands and Belgium. The majority of Dutch inland fishermen and coastal/handline fishermen from the Netherlands and Belgium are affiliated. netVISwerk is committed to ensuring better conditions for fishermen and to an ecologically responsible way of fishing by respecting the carrying capacity of local environments.

 

Fishing for the carrying capacity of the water is the motto of netVISwerk. The members of netVISwerk have signed a covenant in which they declare that they will adhere to the standards and values ​​drawn up by netVISwerk.

 

Stewardship experience: Managing eel fisheries for sustainable use in the Netherlands

 

The issue or problem being addressed

Unsustainable eel fishing

 

The conservation/stewardship activities

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has recognized netVISwerk as THE interest group for inland fisheries and small-scale coastal fisheries. Brussels has given members of the inland fisheries permission to conduct a decentralized eel fishery with a different, more ecologically responsible approach, the so-called Decentralized Eel Management (DAB), a quota fishery based on local data on fish stocks. The DAB was set up following an inventory of the eel stock and scientific determination of a justified quota.

The European Eel Regulation applies closed times for eel fishing in Europe during the silver eel migration. DAB gives the opportunity to fish all year round without a closed time, but with a predetermined scientific quota. A fixed proportion of red and silver eel is harvested, so that the total eel stock remains in balance. In addition, silver eel is released into the sea and glass eel (a stage in the eel’s life history between the leptocephalus stage and the juvenile (elver) stage, when the body is mostly transparent) is imported from France and released as a way of maintaining and managing the population.

 

The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects

Scientifically established improved eel stock in the project area.

Fishermen are assured of an annual turnover that can be calculated in advance. They can take advantage of larger by-catches of common squash/mitten crab and crayfish. The fishermen are involved in all surveys and monitoring activities carried out in the project area. Relations with the legislator and other stakeholders have improved considerably. As a result of their involvement throughout the process, fishermen feel more valued and understand the need for sustainable management of the stock.

 

The success and significance of the activities

The DAB has now been accepted by the Dutch government. After carrying out a pilot program, the DAB was set up structurally. Owing to the success of the pilot, there are now applications in several other regions for setting up DAB fishery area.

 

Some lessons learned or words of wisdom

Take responsibility and implementation in your own hands. Involve the local population and stakeholders as much as possible in the communication, such as governments, services, nature organizations and the like and do not forget to involve other fishing rights holders in the project by means of sounding board groups.

 

 

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Fishery Facts

(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)

 

Fishery characteristics:

• Inland capture fishery (e.g. river/ lake/ reservoir)
• Commercial fishery
• Recreational/ sport fishery
• Subsistence fishery

The environment where fishing takes place: 

• Freshwater – riverine
• Freshwater – wetland
• Coastal – Nearshore

Main species targeted:

• Small pelagics (finfish)
• Molluscs (including bivalves and cephalopods – e.g. octopus/clams)
• Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/prawn/lobster)

Gear types/ methods used:

• Trap/ pot

Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:

• Main source of employment