External meeting
4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel - Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
14 October 2025
4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel - Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
External meeting
Biodiversity
Start date: 14 October 2025
End date: 15 October 2025
Time: 9:00 - 17:00
Place: Malmö, Sweden
Address: Elite Hotel Savoy
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 4th Meeting of Range States for the European Eel on the CMS was held 14 - 15 October 2025 in Malmö Sweden.
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.
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.
Participation supported by
CCB's participation in the event was supported 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 CINEA can be held responsible for them.
CCB positions reflected in these materials are not automatically transferred and do not reflect SI position on these topics.
CCB positions reflected in these materials are not automatically transferred and do not reflect HAVs position on these topics
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.
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.
Participation supported by
CCB's participation in the event was supported 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 CINEA can be held responsible for them.
CCB positions reflected in these materials are not automatically transferred and do not reflect SI position on these topics.
CCB positions reflected in these materials are not automatically transferred and do not reflect HAVs position on these topics
