A Stormont paper assesses the health of marine and freshwater fish stocks across Northern Ireland. It states that eel populations outside Lough Neagh receive less intensive monitoring. Stocks in those areas remain severely depleted.

The Foyle eel population equals 3.38% of historical levels based on past comparisons. The Loughs Agency enforces conservation rules there. All eel capture except by rod-and-line stands prohibited. Any eel caught requires immediate release. Eel sales face a ban to limit further losses.

An experimental eel fishery operated in the Foyle estuary during the early 1970s. Low catches led to its closure. A 2015 study by J. Barry, K.J. Bodles, P. Boylan, C.E. Adams and published by the Royal Irish Academy examined this period. It concluded that even if overfishing occurred then, populations should have recovered in later low-activity years prior to broader recruitment declines.

A commercial eel fishery in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, closed in 2010 after declines. Limited regulated glass-eel harvesting for stocking persists in the area.

Peter Betts of the Assembly’s Research and Information Service prepared the paper.