Silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) population dynamics and production in the River Shannon, Ireland

Published source details MacNamara R. & McCarthy T.K. (2014) Silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) population dynamics and production in the River Shannon, Ireland. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 23, 181-192.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Limit, cease or prohibit commercial fishing Action Link

Limit, cease or prohibit commercial fishing

A before-and-after study in 2008–2011 in a river in Ireland (MacNamara et al. 2014) reported that, three years after ceasing commercial fishing practices in summer months, total catch and recapture rates of silver European eels Anguilla anguilla and average length of female eels were similar to before. Unless stated, Results are not based on tests of statistical significance. In the year before commercial fishing ceased, 10,472 kg of silver eels were caught (average female length: 531–632 mm) compared to 10,712–15,452 kg of silver eels (average female length: 534–646 mm) in the three years after. Annual recapture rates of silver eels did not differ significantly between all four years (one year before: 151 eels, 24%, over three years after: 95–142 eels, 21–25%). An Eel Management Plan required the closure of a yellow eel fishery in the River Shannon in 2009, ceasing longline and fyke net fishing in summer months. In 2008–2011, silver eels were captured in up to 20 stow nets at an eel weir located 3–11 km upstream of a hydropower dam. Some captured eels (568–635 eels/year) were tagged with T-bar anchor tags and released roughly 200 m upstream of the weir. In 2008 (before fishing ceased), 1,867 female eels were measured during 25 sampling occasions. In 2009–2011 (after summer fishing ceased), 785–1,291 female eels were measured on 8–10 occasions.

(Summarised by: Vanessa Cutts)