Hook shedding and post-release fate of deep-hooked European eel
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Published source details
Weltersbach M.S., Ferter K., Sambraus F. & Strehlow H.V. (2016) Hook shedding and post-release fate of deep-hooked European eel. Biological Conservation, 199, 16-24.
Published source details Weltersbach M.S., Ferter K., Sambraus F. & Strehlow H.V. (2016) Hook shedding and post-release fate of deep-hooked European eel. Biological Conservation, 199, 16-24.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Change type of recreational fishing gear (e.g. hook type, bait, lure size) Action Link |
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Change type of recreational fishing gear (e.g. hook type, bait, lure size)
A replicated, controlled study in 2014 in a lake in Hordaland, Norway (Weltersbach et al. 2018) found that using small hooks for recreational fishing of European eels Anguilla anguilla led to higher hook-shedding rates compared to large hooks, but survival rates were similar for eels caught on small and large hooks with and without barbs. Seven of 17 captured eels (41%) shed small hooks after release, whereas none of 15 eels (0%) shed large hooks. After five months, the percentage of released eels that survived did not differ significantly between those caught on large barbed (5 of 10 eels, 50%), large barbless (3 of 5 eels, 60%), small barbed (8 of 11 eels, 73%) or small barbless hooks (3 of 6 eels, 50%). In May 2014, thirty-two European eels (31–50 cm long) were caught by rod and line from a lake shoreline at night. Large (10-mm gap width) and small hooks (6.8-mm gap width) with and without barbs were attached to 7-kg monofilament line and baited with 1–2 live earthworms Eisenia hortensis. All captured eels were hooked beyond the mouth cavity (‘deep-hooked’), and the line cut as close to the mouth as possible. Eels were transported to a research facility where they were anaesthetized, measured, tagged and x-rayed before being transferred to a holding tank. Eels were fed and checked daily for 23 weeks, and x-rayed 1, 3, 10, 24, 54, 115 and 163 days after capture.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
Output references
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