The abundance of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has declined dramatically over the past 50 years. The species is now outside safe biological limits and is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
Despite the EU Eel Recovery Plan (2007), the population has not recovered. A lack of data, heterogeneous assessment methods, fragmented management—despite the species forming a single stock—and limited dialogue and shared strategies among stakeholders and governance levels have all hindered effective implementation of the plan and recovery efforts.
The challenge was to create a shared, accessible management and assessment tool that would provide a comprehensive overview of the status of the eel and its habitats, enabling managers to analyse stock indicators and explore different management scenarios.
Coordinated by AZTI within the framework of the European SUDOANG project (Interreg Sudoe), VISUANG was developed: an interactive online platform that allows users to visualise scientific indicators on eel populations and their riverine ecosystems across Spain, France and Portugal.
The platform integrates data from 49,000 surveys at 23,000 locations and information on 100,000 migratory barriers, combining estimates of recruitment, escapement, mortality, exploitation and migration obstacles.
VISUANG offers an intuitive interface that supports rapid, evidence-based decision-making by managers.
Creation of a transnational database on the status of the European eel and its habitats.
A visual, accessible tool to prioritise conservation measures and river restoration actions.
Estimation of species status indicators using a common, open and replicable methodology across three countries, facilitating extension to other European regions.