2nd Meeting of Range States for the European Eel

Description: 

 

The European Eel has a wide geographic range from Northern Norway to North Africa and the Mediterranean. Mature fish migrate thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea, south of Bermuda to spawn. There is significant concern regarding the status of Anguilla anguilla, due to a decline in recruitment, population and escapement of the species over the past four decades.

The species is already listed as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List and is on Appendix II of CITES. European Union legislation was adopted in 2007 to ensure all Member States would develop Eel Management Plans. In 2014, as proposed by the Government of Monaco, the species was listed on CMS Appendix II, "having a conservation status which would significantly benefit from international co-operation".

A first meeting of Range States and European and American Eel experts was convened in October 2016 in Galway Ireland.  

In 2017, COP12 adopted a Concerted Action for the species, which envisaged a number of future actions, including a second meeting of Range States. 

This workshop is being co-organized by the CMS Secretariat and the Sargasso Sea Commission. The purpose is to identify and prioritize the gaps in conservation and management efforts and chart a way forward.  

Measures to be discussed might include the extension of the management regimes, which have been developed in the EU, to other Range States, mechanisms to support such activities, and, to the extent possible under current international law, the protection of the crucial spawning areas in the high seas area of the Sargasso Sea.  

The meeting will provide a unique opportunity for the Range States to come together and take stock of eel conservation and management measures, and discuss options for a possible instrument.

Pre-registration

 

The Government of the Principality of Monaco were recognized as Champion Plus for their generous support and commitment towards marine species conservation for the period 2018 – 2020. This activity has been funded with the contribution granted by Monaco under the Migratory Species Champion Programme.

Dates
15 May 2018 to 16 May 2018
OrganizerCMS Secretariat
CoorganizerSargasso Sea Commission
CMS InstrumentCMS
TypeTechnical Meeting
StatusConcluded
LanguagesEnglish
CountrySweden
CityMalmö
VenueWorld Maritime University

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