Good response on endangered eels so far

Good response on endangered eels so far – Environment Commissioner

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, has told a committee of MPs that she is pleased with the Government’s response on the endangered longfin eel so far, but more remains to be done.

Dr Wright was addressing the Local Government and Environment Committee on her report, On a pathway to extinction? An investigation into the status and management of the longfin eel, which was published in April. In this report, she raised serious concerns about the future of longfin eels – the largest and longest-lived freshwater eels in the world.

She says she has been heartened by the positive response from Ministers.

“The Minister of Conservation and the Minister for Primary Industries have both been very receptive to my concerns about the longfin eel and initiated work in line with my recommendations.

“I am looking forward to seeing DOC’s proposals to protect eel habitat and fish passage.

“I am also looking forward to finding out about the progress MPI has made to setting up the expert independent panel that is to review the status of the longfin eel population.

“These eels are precious and exist nowhere else in the world – we have a responsibility to ensure their survival.”

A copy of the full report is available here.

ENDS

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