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1. This Article applies to the GFCM geographical subareas 1 to 27, to brackish waters and to freshwaters. Brackish waters include estuaries, coastal lagoons and transitional waters.

2. It shall be prohibited to engage in commercial fishing activities for European eel (Anguilla anguilla) of an overall length of more than 12 cm, either as a targeted species or as incidental by-catch, for a period of at least six months in 2025. To that effect, each Member State concerned shall determine one or more closure periods subject to the following:

(a) where appropriate, the closure period or periods may differ within one Member State from one fishing area to another in order to take account of the geographical and temporal migration pattern of European eel at its different life stages;

(b) the closure period or periods shall last either at least six consecutive months, or a total of six months in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 3; and (c) the closure period or periods shall be consistent with the conservation objectives set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 (), with national management plans in place and with the temporal migration patterns of European eel at the respective life stage in the Member State concerned.

3. The closure period shall be from 1 January to 31 March 2025, and an additional closure period of three months shall be established by each Member State concerned to take place between 1 April and 30 November 2025.

4. Commercial fishing activities for European eel of an overall length of less than 12 cm shall be authorised annually for a period of two months, and those fishing activities shall be monitored by a designated scientific institution which shall supervise data collection and analyses.

5. The maximum number of fishing authorisations and the maximum number of passive gears authorised to target European eel of an overall length of less than 12 cm for commercial purposes shall not exceed the levels set out in Annex I.

6. Recreational fisheries of European eel at all life stages shall be prohibited.

7. Each Member State concerned shall inform the Commission of:

(a) the closure period or closure periods that it has determined in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 by 1 March 2025;

(b) the national measures relating to the closure period or closure periods that it has determined in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3, within two weeks of their adoption; and (c) the period authorised to fish for European eel of an overall length of less than 12 cm in accordance with paragraph 4 by 1 March 2025.