Dossier

European eel

The stock of European eel is only at about 10 percent of what it was about fifty years ago. In this dossier you can find news, backgrounds and results of our research on eels and eel fishing in the Netherlands. Our research focuses on among others the propagation of glass eel, residues of dioxin in eel, monitoring eel by tracking with tags and the possibilities for eel protection.

Rules and regulation

European eels spend the first two years of their life being swept 5,000 km by the Gulfstream, until they reach our coastal waters in the form of transparent ‘glass eels’ measuring seven centimetres. They are prevented from entering our waterways by locks, but glass eels can wash through openings in the lock gates by the current.

News about European eel

Research on European eel

Publications on European eel