In recent decades, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) stock has declined in most of the distribution area and is outside safe biological limits. A management framework for the recovery of the European eel stock was established in 2007 through an EU regulation (EU 1100/2007). The objective of this regulation is the protection and sustainable use of the stock. To achieve the objective, member states have to develop eel management plans for their river basin districts. According to the EU regulation, eel management plans shall allow an escapement to sea of at least 40% of the biomass of silver eel, defined as the best estimate of the theoretical escapement if the stock had been completely free of anthropogenic influences. The Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO) provides the scientific background for the Belgian eel management plans. Hereto, the available information about eel in Flanders was summarized and the production and escapement of silver eels from the Flemish rivers was estimated.