The Human Dimensions of Recreational Fisheries Management of European Eel

In response to the decline of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), the European Union implemented an eel recovery action plan in 2007. Many anthropogenic and natural causes of the decline bring complexity to the issue of how to effectively conserve eel stocks. One stakeholder that has been identified is the recreational fishing sector, management of which is dependent on understanding human dimensions of the fishery. We surveyed eel anglers to assess their support for eel management policies covering multiple sectors and changes to economic welfare and targeted angling effort in response to stricter recreational fisheries regulations. This information was supplemented with additional data characterizing anglers using a recreation specialization framework. Differently specialised eel anglers exhibited distinct preferences for eel angling regulations, and while all anglers supported moderately stricter angling regulations, committed eel anglers reported disproportionately higher welfare losses associated with highly restrictive angling regulations. Despite strong preferences, effort responses to stricter angling regulations were highly inelastic, suggesting few acceptable substitutes among other target species. Given limited effort reductions in response to a highly publicized proposal to close the fishery for two weeks per month, direct harvest regulation may be more effective tools for reaching conservation goals.