PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has a complex 15-year life cycle characterised by several life stages: as leptocephalus larvae it performs the trans-Atlantic migration from the Sargasso Sea spawning area to continental areas of Europe and north Africa, where it metamorphoses into the glass eel stage that aggregates in river estuaries, moving to freshwaters where it grows into yellow eel before becoming sexually mature as silver eel, and starts its unique migration back to the Sargasso Sea. The European eel is in a critical situation, with a 99% decrease since the end of the 1980s. The species is listed as "Critically Endangered" in the IUCN Red List and in the European Red List of Freshwater Fishes and it is protected by EU Regulation EC1100/2007 through the adoption by Member States of an Eel Management Plan. The eel stock is globally endangered by several major threats, including pressure from fisheries and aquaculture due to its high commercial value, fragmentation of inland waterways and range reduction, hydroelectric turbine mortality, scarcity of water, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing of glass eels (elvers), and a widespread lack of information and stakeholders involvement in the conservation of the species.
OBJECTIVES
The general objective of LIFEEL is to support the long-term conservation of the Adriatic/Aegean European eel stocks, with the development and transfer of concrete actions and governance measures in Italy and Greece. This will be achieved through the following specific objectives:
Increase escapement of the "best" silver eels, reducing as close to zero as possible their mortality by fishing and aquaculture; Safeguard the wild stocks of juveniles from the threat of fishery for aquaculture purposes by artificial reproduction and breeding; Restore access to areas vocational to the species, for its growth in freshwaters, so that juveniles and adults can freely move within the hydrographic network until sexual maturation (achieved after several years of life, 15 on average); Reduce the lethal impact of turbines of hydroelectric plants on eels descending waterways, by constructing a demonstrative light barrier system and establishing guidelines for hydroelectric producers with a participatory approach (Italy only); and Develop an information and awareness campaign with the involvement of stakeholders and local populations. The project supports the EU Regulation EC1100/2007 on the European Eel, the EU Habitats Directive, the Biodiversity Strategy, the Water Framework Directive, and the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species. Moreover, the stock data collected is in line with the Data Collection Framework-DCF (EU Regulation 2017/1004) and the Recommendation (GFCM/42/2018/1) on a multiannual management plan for eel stock in the Mediterranean Sea.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Actual contribution to current escapement of eels of 50% of the escapement biomass by the end of the project, which will be doubled 5 years after; 1 standard protocol for the best migrant silver eels and releasing over 11 500 best migrant eels into the wild; Participation of no less than 10 eel fish farmers/fishermen to the project, and involvement of at least 40 pond farmers in Italy (almost 50% total pond surface in the Po Delta) and 10 eel fishermen in Greece; Participation of at least 2 800 recreational anglers along Italian coasts and their commitment as an association for the 5 years after the end of the project of at least 3 500/year for the release of selected silver eels, and at least 240 000 recreational anglers reached; Restocking into the wild of 6 400 000 juveniles at the end of the project and additional 8 000 000 juveniles in the 5 years after; Production of at least 30 000 000 fertilised eggs in 3 years; At least 5 farmers/researchers from all over Europe trained on early eel hatching for possible replication; 1 standard protocol for breeding juveniles till glass eel stage of life (desired result); 6 blue infrastructures realised in the Po Delta (3) and on Panaro River (3), and 1 blue infrastructure realized on the Nestos River, reopening 1,000 km rivers to elvers upstream migration in Italy and 70kmin Greece; Transfer to Greece of the skills to realise eel-passes; 2 Plans of the priority interventions to restore river connectivity adopted by the competent authorities of Po Basin in Italy and in 3 Eel Management Units (EMUs) in Greece; Designing, installation, implementation and monitoring of the first demonstrative deterrent device to prevent the entry of migrant silver eels into turbines in Italy; 1 manual on Guidelines for the compliance of hydro structures with downstream migration of silver eels adopted in Italy with the participation of at least five hydroelectric companies; 1 commitment signed by ENEL GP to disseminate and include in its future designs the eel secure facilities issued in the Guidelines; 500 000 persons reached by communication and transfer campaigns; 10 000 persons directly involved in LIFEEL, along with 8 000 students; 3 200 stakeholders participating to the project (fishermen/fish farmers/anglers/hydroelectric representatives/researchers/tourism agencies representatives/environmental associations representatives/educators/public administrators); 1 revision of the regional eel management plans of the EMUs involved; 3 data deliveries for the implementation of the Data Collection Framework (EU Regulation 2017/1004); and 1 Green Procurement Commitment signed by all the partners.
