#TECL2611426AFrance Moves Up Closure of Recreational Freshwater Eel Fishing for 2025-2026
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
France closes recreational freshwater fishing for European eel on July 31, 2026, for the 2025-2026 season in river basins outside Rhône-Mediterranean and Corsica. Earlier local closure dates still apply where they have already been set by national or prefectural rules. Recreational line fishers must report catches of yellow eels within 24 hours through the government online service, or by paper mail if they cannot use digital tools. Recreational fishers using gear or nets continue to follow the existing reporting system.
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Key Changes
- Sets July 31, 2026 as the closure date for recreational freshwater European eel fishing in covered basins
- Keeps earlier closure dates in force where national or prefectural rules already set them
- Requires recreational line fishers to report yellow eel catches within 24 hours online or by paper mail
Obligations
What this law requires
Recreational freshwater fishing of European eel must close for the 2025-2026 season on 31 July 2026 in French river basins other than Rhône-Mediterranean and Corsica, unless an earlier closure date already applies under the 5 February 2016 order or a prefectural order.
Recreational line fishers must declare all catches of yellow eels within 24 hours using the government online service provided at https://demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/.
Recreational line fishers who do not have access to digital tools must submit their yellow eel catch declaration on paper within 24 hours by mail to the relevant departmental federation of approved fishing and aquatic environment protection associations; the postmark serves as proof of timing.
Recreational fishers using gear or nets, including authorized members of approved fishing and aquatic environment protection associations, must continue declaring yellow eel catches under the reporting conditions set by the 22 October 2010 order.