News Release

DETAILS OF THE 2000-2004 EEL FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN - PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Charlottetown -- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans today released the first integrated fishery management plan for the eel fishery in the Prince Edward Island area. This integrated plan is a five-year management plan, which covers the 2000-2004 eel fishery for the coastal and inland waters of Prince Edward Island. This plan is intended to operate in conjunction with an annual eel harvesting plan in which specific harvesting guidelines such as fishing areas, seasons, size limits, etc. may be adjusted according to conservation requirements.

The principle components of this plan are an overview of the fishery, stock status, long-term objectives for the fishery, general management objectives, current management issues, management measures for the current year and enforcement issues and strategies.

On Prince Edward Island there are 848 licensed commercial eel fishers; 508 are for spear only, 127 are for net only and 120 are for both gear types. Active commercial fishers have harvested between 33 and 129 metric tons of eels annually during the last ten years, with landed values between $212,310 and $435,501.

Eels are sold fresh locally, however, the majority of the eels landed are sold to a buying/processing company where they are shipped live and frozen to overseas markets in Europe.

Eel fishers with their representatives and other groups sit on the Prince Edward Island Estuarine Advisory Committee. The integrated management plan released today is the result of discussions held by this committee aimed at achieving the long term conservation and sustainability of this fishery.

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For information:

Internet: : http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/comm-comm/nr-cp/index-e.html