Closed season for eel from October to January

European eel is critically engangered. Purpose of this action is to support conservation of eel stocks. In Finland eel is primarily caucht by recreational fishermen and the main fishing gears are long line, angling rod, wire trap and trap-net. Most eels are caught as bycatch.

European eel is a catadromous species. The spawning grounds for European eel are located in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic. After hatching the larvae drift towards Europe. They travel with ocean currents to the coasts of Europe within one to three years. When approaching the continent in the end of trans-Atlantic migration, the larvae metamorphose into a small transparent eels; stage is called glass eel. As the eels grow, they become elvers; tiny pigmented eels. Next step is to take residence in rivers and stillwaters and develop into yellow eels. After a growing period ‒ approximately 5‒20 years ‒ mature silver eels migrate back to Atlantic Ocean.

Photo on the top: Evening is a good time for eel angling. During the closed season also angling for eel is prohibited. (Photo: Jari Tuiskunen)

(28.09.2018)