SUDOANG

Main results

Within the framework of the project, two products have been developed for the management and conservation of the species in the SUDOE area:

• VISUANG an online tool in which to easily visualise indicators on the status of the species and its habitat. For this purpose, data have been collected from almost 49,000 samplings in more than 23,000 points in the rivers of Spain, France and Portugal. In addition, information has been collected on 100,000 obstacles to eel migration in these countries. This information has been completed by sampling using common protocols in 10 pilot river basins located in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and representing diverse ecosystems of the SUDOE area.
• GOBERNANG a platform to facilitate eel governance in the SUDOE area, fostering dialogue between stakeholders to contribute to the concerted and effective management of the species.

Antecedentes

The abundance of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has been declining in the last 50 years and is outside safe biological limits, which guarantee the survival of the species. For this reason, the European eel has been included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

Even though the EU established a Recovery Plan in 2007, the population has not recovered. Why?

• The lack of data and the variability of assessment methods limit the scope and effectiveness of the population monitoring.
• Although the European eel is a single fish stock, it is assessed and managed as separate units.
• There is a lack of dialogue and common strategies between the stakeholders (scientists, managers, fishermen, NGOs) and at different levels (local/regional/national).

In this context, a joint assessment is needed to obtain better knowledge and cooperation between the stakeholders involved.

Datos del proyecto