Title : 
 Report of the Joint EIFAAC / ICES / GFCM Working Group on Eels ( WGEEL ) 

 Abstract : 
 The Joint EIFAAC / ICES / GFCM Working group on eels ( WGEEL ) met in a split meeting from 4–8 September ( online ) and 25 September–02 October 2023 ( hybrid meeting ) in Helsinki , Finland , to provide the scientific basis for the ICES advice on fishing opportunities and conservation aspects for the European eel and address requests from EIFAAC and GFCM . WGEEL assessed the state of the European eel and its fisheries , collated and analysed biometric data , reviewed the implementation of the WKFEA ( Workshop on the future of eel advice ) roadmap , examined available recruitment data from coastal and marine habitats , reported on any updates to the scientific basis of the advice , new and emerging threats or opportunities , including developments in the Mediterranean region . After high levels in the late 1970s , the recruitment declined dramatically in the 1980s and remains low . Compared to 1960–1979 , the recruitment in the “ North Sea ” was 0.4 % in 2023 ( provisional ) and 0.7 % in 2022 ( final ) . In the “ Elsewhere Europe ” index series was 8.8 % in 2023 ( provisional ) and 11.3 % in 2022 ( final ) . For the yellow eel data series , recruitment for 2022 was 9 % ( final ) . Time - series from 1980 to 2023 show that glass eel recruitment remains at a very low level , with an historical minimum value in the North Sea . Silver eel time series have been analysed to identify patterns in abundance trends . These analyses are exploratory and have enabled us to test certain statistical methods and their limitations for analysing temporal series on silver eels . Although they give us an initial idea of trends in silver eel abundance , their results should be treated with caution . In fact , several problems have been identified and these points need to be improved in order to be able to interpret the results . The trend of reported commercial landings shows a long - term continuing decline , from a level of around 10,000 t in the 1960s , reported commercial landings have now dropped to 2028 ( glass eel + yellow eel + silver eel ) in 2022 . The commercial glass eel fishery in 2022 was 60.1 t and 53.6 t in 2023 . Reported landings from yellow and silver eel commercial fisheries ( Y , S , YS ) add up to 2914 t in 2021 and 2437 t in 2022 . Spain was the only country allowing a recreational catch of glass eel , with landings estimated at 0.72 t in 2022 and 1.32 t in 2023 . Reported recreational landings for yellow and silver eel combined were 240 t for 2021 ( 11 countries reporting ) and 249 t for 2022 . Progress with regards to the ‘ road map ’ developed within WKFEA was evaluated . The returns from the three questionnaires distributed by WKSMEEL to WGEEL members were summarised . In relation to the progress of the WKFEA roadmap , item 1 ; the inclusion of biological data is advanced with biometry data included in the annual data call . Item 2 relates to the reconstruction of the landings data and a workshop will take place in December 2023 . Items 3 and 4 are also in progress , the Spatial database and Model for Eel ( WKSMEEL ) workshop was held in June 2023 with a follow up workshop planned for October 2023 . A questionnaire for 3 topics ( electrofishing , hydrographic network , and river obstructions & hydropower ) was circulated to WGEEL members in August 2023 . Of the 21 countries who responded , a large majority carry out electrofishing , have available hydrographic networks and hold some information of obstructions to migration . However , it was recognised that considerable effort and resources will be required before the available data could be collated .