External meeting
4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel - Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
October 14, 2025
External meeting
4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel - Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
Start date: October 14, 2025
End date: October 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 - 17:00
Place: Elite Hotel Savoy
Address: Malmö, Sweden
What is CMS?
CMS was adopted in 1979 as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS or Bonn Convention).
Description
The European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) has a wide geographic range from Northern Norway to North Africa and the Mediterranean. Mature fish migrate thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea, south of Bermuda to spawn. There is significant concern regarding the status of Anguilla anguilla, due to a decline in recruitment, population, and escapement of the species over the past four decades. In 2014, the species was listed on CMS Appendix II, "having a conservation status which would significantly benefit from international co-operation". All but two Range States are Parties to CMS.
The first workshop in 2016 also covered the American Eel. At COP12 in 2017, Parties adopted a Concerted Action on the species, which led in turn to a second Range State meeting in Malmö in 2018. The third Range State meeting took place in 2019 in Malmö, setting a clear path for the development of a CMS Action Plan for the species.
The 4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel on the CMS was held 14 - 15 October 2025 in Malmö Sweden.
CCB's participants in the event
- Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer
With the cooperation of the Sargasso Sea Commission, a draft of a Single Species Action Plan for the European Eel has been developed. After an initial round of consultation on the first draft, a 2nd draft will be tabled at 4th Meeting of the Range States for finalization. The resulting version will be presented to CMS COP15 in March 2026 for adoption.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
The first workshop in 2016 also covered the American Eel. At COP12 in 2017, Parties adopted a Concerted Action on the species, which led in turn to a second Range State meeting in Malmö in 2018. The third Range State meeting took place in 2019 in Malmö, setting a clear path for the development of a CMS Action Plan for the species.
The 4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel on the CMS was held 14 - 15 October 2025 in Malmö Sweden.
CCB's participants in the event
- Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer
With the cooperation of the Sargasso Sea Commission, a draft of a Single Species Action Plan for the European Eel has been developed. After an initial round of consultation on the first draft, a 2nd draft will be tabled at 4th Meeting of the Range States for finalization. The resulting version will be presented to CMS COP15 in March 2026 for adoption.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.