International eel symposium, 2003 - Quebec August 11, 2003
Oral Presentation

Are American Eel Harvests in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay sustainable?

Weeder, J.A.* Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service, Matapeake Work Center, 301 Marine Academy Drive, Stevensville, MD 21666

Presenter email address: jweeder AT dnr.state.md.us

Abstract Text: We investigated yield-per-recruit (YPR) and spawner-biomass-per-recruit (SBR) of American eel stocks in Maryland's portion of Chesapeake Bay to determine population status. Five commercially fished and one unfished estuarine river system were surveyed over multiple years. Eels were younger and grew faster than anticipated. Fishing mortality rates (F) ranged from 0.41 to 1.14. The percentage of maximum spawning potential (%MSP) needed for replacement of the stock was estimated at 33% and F at replacement equaled 0.15; current %MSP was 0.3% to 7%. Eels in Chesapeake Bay appear to be severely overfished. Fishing mortality rates exceeded YPR reference points F_max (0.26) and F_0.1 (0.17), and our spawning potential threshold. These reference points appear to be inappropriate as targets for YPR or SBR. Escapement from Chesapeake Bay was likely a historically significant contributor to overall reproduction. However, sustainability of American eel populations in the Chesapeake Bay region must now depend on fishing mortality being low elsewhere; escapement of spawners from Chesapeake Bay has to be very low at the F's we have measured. Methods to decrease fishing mortality should be evaluated.