🐟 Summary: Longfin Eel Stock Status and Management – 2025

Since Longfin Eels (LFE) were added to New Zealand’s Quota Management System (QMS) in 2001 and 2004, their populations have significantly improved. This success is due to:

• Better harvesting practices: Larger escape tubes (31–50 mm) reduce juvenile catch and improve yield.

• Reduced commercial pressure: Only ~11% of LFE waters are fished, with fewer fishers and stricter weight limits (400 g–4 kg).

• Digital tracking: Electronic reporting has replaced paper systems, improving transparency.

• Habitat restoration: Landowners and taxpayers have enhanced wetlands and water quality, expanding eel habitats.

• Protected areas: DOC-managed lands (~25% of NZ) mostly prohibit commercial eel fishing.

• Reliable recruitment: Monitoring shows strong elver returns and balanced size structures.

However, regulatory settings have not kept pace with ecological recovery:

• TACC limits are too low, forcing fishers to return large LFEs that prey on smaller eels, especially Shortfin Eels (SFE).

• Quota imbalance is causing LFE dominance in mixed fisheries, making SFE harvests uneconomic.

• Returning oversized eels imposes heavy workloads and undermines fishery viability.

• Current regulations breach the Fisheries Act, which mandates sustainable utilisation.

⚠️ Urgent Recommendation:

Update LFE catch limits and weight restrictions to reflect the improved stock status and restore balance between LFE and SFE populations. This will support both ecological sustainability and commercial viability.