Full Breakdown
Lough Neagh Eel Fishery Closed Amid Declining Stocks and New Support Plans
7/28/2026, 10:55:41 AM
Closure of the Lough Neagh eel fishery
The Lough Neagh eel, the first Northern Ireland product to receive Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the EU, will not be harvested as yellow eels this year or for the next two years. The fishery has been shut down, allowing only a minimal catch of about 25 tonnes of silver eels—fully mature individuals—by the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative.
Background and environmental pressures
European eels (Anguilla anguilla) begin life in the Sargasso Sea, drift across the Atlantic for up to three years, and mature in European freshwater bodies such as Lough Neagh. Over the past four decades, recruitment of juvenile eels has collapsed dramatically, falling from an estimated 14–16 million per year in the early 1980s to just over 200 000 today. Scientists attribute the decline to a combination of climate impacts, hydropower barriers, pollution, exotic parasites, over-fishing, and illegal smuggling. Management plans across Europe, introduced from 2009 onward, have imposed export bans and halted recreational and commercial eel fishing in several countries.
Economic impact on fishermen
Licensed anglers such as Gary Erlain, who historically earned up to 80 % of his income from eel catches, now face the loss of their primary livelihood. Erlain and other fishers have highlighted deteriorating water quality, repeated algal blooms (notably in 2023, 2024 and 2025), and heat-wave conditions as contributing factors to the fishery’s collapse.
Government response and support scheme
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir announced a series of measures aimed at long-term stock recovery. The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said the new measures are based on scientific advice and fulfill its statutory duty to protect the critically endangered European eel. No specific timetable has been provided.
Outlook and conservation prospects
Prof Derek Evans of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute described the eel as a resilient species that has survived ice ages and asteroid impacts. He expressed cautious optimism that, with appropriate management—such as fishing bans, protected migration routes, and targeted assistance for affected communities—the species can recover and continue its historic life cycle.
