Fishing restrictions imposed to protect endangered European eel in Lough Neagh

Restrictions on fishing the critically‑endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) have been introduced in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland’s largest lake, as part of a conservation programme aimed at restoring the species’ dwindling population. The new measures, announced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), prohibit the capture of eels of any size throughout the lake and impose a temporary ban on commercial and recreational eel fishing for the current season. The decision follows a series of assessments that identified Lough Neagh as a key habitat for the eel’s life cycle and highlighted the species’ severe decline across Europe, where it is listed as “critically endangered” under the IUCN Red List and protected by EU habitat directives.

The restrictions are accompanied by increased monitoring and enforcement actions, including spot checks by fisheries officers and the introduction of a licensing framework that requires anglers to report any eel catches immediately. DAERA expects the measures to improve recruitment rates and support the natural regeneration of the eel population, which has suffered from over‑exploitation, habitat loss, and barriers to migration. Ongoing scientific surveys will track population trends, and the department has indicated that the fishing ban will be reviewed next year to determine whether further extensions or adjustments are necessary to achieve long‑term recovery goals.