Germany introduced a ban on catching the European eel

In a significant move to protect the European eel population, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, alongside the Federal Ministry of the Environment, has declared a fishing moratorium in the North Sea and its saltwater estuaries from September 2024 to February 2025, and in the Baltic Sea from mid-September 2024 to mid-March 2025. This decision, informed by recommendations from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Tünen Institute, aligns with a broader EU-wide initiative aimed at eel conservation. While recreational eel fishing remains banned in marine and brackish waters under EU law, a novel 30-day exemption during the peak migration period in August 2024 will be implemented in the North Sea, striking a balance between conservation efforts and the livelihoods of fishing communities.