Germany: Improved protection of the eel and continuation of the recovery process for western Baltic herring decided

Parliamentary State Secretary Ophelia Nick said: "These were very intensive negotiations and we fought very hard. Ultimately, we were able to fulfill our responsibility for the sustainable management and reconstruction of fish stocks. However, this is only a first step, but it is important. This is true both with the necessary, large cuts in the eel and with increasing catch quotas in the North Sea." The EU Commission had proposed a closed season of six months for eel. After difficult negotiations, this could be implemented thanks to the support of Germany, albeit with flexibility in design for the member states. A fixed, EU-wide closed season of three months was set - for the Baltic Sea from October to December, for the North Sea from September to November. The remaining three months are to be determined by the Member States, taking into account eel migration. However, it will not be possible to close the eel fishery in January 2023 due to the short notice and also for EU legal ...