NGOs behind the joint letter
Classified as ‘critically endangered’ by CITES since 2009, the European eel populations have faced a drastic decline, mainly due to overfishing and obstructions on their migratory paths. In November, the EU Commission proposed a ban to prohibit fishing of all eels in European waters, under the Common Fisheries Policy legislation. Ahead of the next Fisheries Council meeting, 11–12 December, WWF along with 19 NGOs have sent a letter asking the EU Fisheries Ministers what management measures they will plan for their national waters, in addition to stop the marine fishery of eel in Europe.
