Publication Abstract

Report of the Workshop on Age Reading of European and American Eel (WKAREA2)

Report of the Workshop on Age Reading of European and American Eel (WKAREA2)

A.M. Walker* et al.

This Report summarizes the presentations, discussions and recommendations of the 2011 session of the ICES Study Group on International Post evaluation on Eels which took place in London, United Kingdom, hosted by the Environment Agency, from 24 to 27 May 2011. This study group was chaired by Laurent Beaulaton (France) and involved 13 people from 8 countries.

This study group is intended to design, test, analyse and report on a method of scien-tific ex-post evaluation at the stock-wide level of applied management measure for eel restoration. After a first meeting mainly focused on designing the appropriate framework and the methods for eel ex-post evaluation and reviewing available data, this meeting test the reliability of this framework.

The scientific basis and the applicability of the modified ICES precautionary diagram have been improved. The possibilities of data deficiencies and inconsistencies have been explored and a first draft of a quality control sheet has been designed. Addi-tionally a power analysis has been conducted to see the ability to detect any change in stock status indicator (recruitment and silver eel biomass). It shows that, given the high natural variability of biological processes, the probability to detect any change, even in case of strong management measures, is very low in 2012 but increase with time. As a consequence, in the short term, the most important parameter to post-evaluate the result of implemented eel management measures is anthropogenic mor-tality since most effects on biomass will only show up after several years.

 

Reference:

A.M. Walker* et al. (2011) Report of the Workshop on Age Reading of European and American Eel (WKAREA2). ICES. 2011. Report of the Workshop on Age Reading of European and American Eel (WKAREA2), 22-24 March 2011, Bordeaux, France. ICES CM 2011/ACOM:43. 35 pp.

A.M. Walker* et al.

ICES. 2011. Report of the Workshop on Age Reading of European and American Eel (WKAREA2), 22-24 March 2011, Bordeaux, France. ICES CM 2011/ACOM:43. 35 pp.