GALWAY EEL FISHERMEN TAKE PART IN LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST BAN

Date Published: 26-Jun-2009

Galway's eel fishermen are to join their national counterparts in mounting a legal challenge to the Government's blanket ban on eel fishing in Ireland. Two months ago the Government banned all eel fishing as its solution to an EU directive which sought to protect eel stocks.Eels originate in the Caribbean and migrate to Europe, reaching the waterways of Galway and the West in April of each year. According to the Western Fisheries Board their numbers have been declining for several years now and conservation measures had to be taken.However, the now redundant local eel fishermen disagree, disputing the claims that stocks have been declining. Menlo eel fisherman, Sean Craven, is strongly in favour of the legal challenge.