Hi all, this is a copy of a letter/article sent to the papers, hope you dont mind me posting it for you, just to let you know what else is adding to the decline of my favourite species.
The European Eel as most of you are aware is in a state of severe decline, over exploitation, pollution, habitat loss, barriers and parasites have all added to its recent demise. The demand for the eel for the food industry and bait suppliers means the eel is “fished for” at all stages of its complex and long lifecycle. The demand however, not only comes from Europe but also Asia as stocks of their Japanese Eel has also diminished.
Now it seems that people are not happy eating eels but now there is a demand to wear the skins as fashion accessories. It has come to light that Marks and Spencers are quite happy to supply Eel skin products from a company called Bobelle, an apparently eco – conscious company. The products have also been mentioned in articles in the Times, Guardian, Marie Claire, Look, the Mail etc etc.
The skins, it is stated, come from Asia and are a by product of the Asian food industry, this may sound fine, but seeing as Japanese Eel stocks have crashed and there is a demand for Our Eels over there, there is a very good chance that the skins being used are of European origin. In addition, a number of our ( NAC) members have been contacted by individuals trying to source UK eels for the market, this is becoming a very worrying trend, as some naïve individuals may be tempted by monies being offered to provide such details.
We ( NAC) have recently contacted M&S and Bobelle for clarification regarding Eel skins, as in my mind, it is no different from using any other endangered species for clothing regardless of whether the skin is a by product of the food industry. These eels could be British Eels. The silence from them is deafening. I have since contacted Greenpeace and the WWF, Greenpeace are concerned but cannot take on anymore campaigns, I am awaiting a reply from WWF.
It seems as usual, from my experience as a fisheries biologist, that the eel is treated in the same way as it has always been….with contempt. Its time the powers that be started to treat and manage our eel stocks as a precious entity. It is afterall a keystone species, a bioindicator of water quality and connectivity. It is the most at risk vertebrate in Europe yet it only gets any recognition when there is money to be made. Its time an ecological price was put on the eel not just an economical one. The world would be in uproar if it was a cute and cuddly mammal that was been exploited in this way, there would be campaigns galore to protect it. Even the relevant organisations don’t seem to be doing a great deal, when enquiries go in there seems to be a moving of goalposts or a great deal of fobbing off. This was apparent last year when Chasewater was being drained, it was down to local anglers to do what they could to save fish. If we don’t speak up now more and more native species will be lost……but at least the wife will have something to wear!!!!!
The National Anguilla club is not only the oldest single species group but we do try and fight for the Eels cause, being a relatively small club it is sometimes hard for our voice to be heard as lets face it the Eel is or was deemed unfashionable ( in angling circles). We do it off our own backs, because we care, we don’t have any funding other than membership fees which is used up in producing bulletins, magazines and newsletters and an active forum. We are very active in all aspects of eel conservation and our records officer Steve Dawe has successfully started an eel friendly fishery scheme with a number of fisheries already signed up.