Assessing the conservation challenges for the European eel through the Delphi technique

Bibtex

@misc{488ab127-0653-46ae-b313-96dfc6d84dfa,
title = "Assessing the conservation challenges for the European eel through the Delphi technique",
abstract = "The once abundant European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is currently classified as a Critically Endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Although both the European Union (through the 2007 Eel Regulation) and its member states have implemented various conservation actions, many uncertainties remain regarding the actual and anticipated effectiveness of these measures. This study aimed to identify and prioritise the conservation and recovery measures for the European eel, using the expert-based Delphi technique. We conducted a two-round Delphi survey on eel conservation measures (these measures were derived from an extensive review of the peer-reviewed literature). The findings highlight the need for establishing a pan-European eel recruitment monitoring programme (to obtain reliable eel population estimates), restoring access to suitable inland habitats by removing migration barriers and improving habitat quality. Experts also emphasized the necessity for a more stringent silver eel escapement target and stronger enforcement of this target. While restocking of eel remains a contentious issue, a set of preconditions could render it conditionally acceptable. This study offers important insights into the areas of consensus and divergence among eel experts in the challenging field of eel conservation. We hope these results strengthen eel management decision-making such that this Critically Endangered species does not become a museum specimen for future generations.",
author = "Nibedita Mukherjee and Anders Clarhäll and Henrik Scharin and Matilda Svensson and Arlie H. McCarthy and John Wyatt Greenlee and Ovidiu Alexa and Dirk A. Algera and Miran Aprahamian and Juan F. Asturiano and Imen Ben Ammar and Marco L. Bianchini and Emma Björkvik and Jonathan D. Bolland and David K. Cairns and Briand Cédric and Eleonora Ciccotti and Isabel Domingos and Chris K. Elvidge and Sheila Eyler and Benjamin Geffroy and Nathan P. Griffiths and Tiago F. Grilo and Stephanie Januchowski-Hartley and Don Jellyman and Einar Kärgenberg and Raphael Lagarde and Roman Lyach and Ruairi MacNamara and Paco Melià and Paul Meulenbroek and Vincent Nijman and P. Anders Nilsson and Cinzia Podda and Patrick Prouzet and Mehis Rohtla and Niklas Sjöberg and Florian M. Stein and Roxana Sühring and Henrik Svedäng and Carl Tamario and Tessa van der Hammen and Pieterjan Verhelst and Johan Watz and Marc Simon Weltersbach and Håkan Westerberg and Håkan Wickström and Jean Hugé",
year = "2026",
month = may,
day = "26",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04257",
language = "English",
publisher = "Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek",
address = "Belgium,
type = "Other"
}

Authors

Nibedita Mukherjee
Anders Clarhäll
Henrik Scharin
Matilda Svensson
Arlie H. McCarthy
John Wyatt Greenlee
Ovidiu Alexa
Dirk A. Algera
Miran Aprahamian
Juan F. Asturiano
Imen Ben Ammar
Marco L. Bianchini
Emma Björkvik
Jonathan D. Bolland
David K. Cairns
Briand Cédric
Eleonora Ciccotti
Isabel Domingos
Chris K. Elvidge
Sheila Eyler
Benjamin Geffroy
Nathan P. Griffiths
Tiago F. Grilo
Stephanie Januchowski-Hartley
Don Jellyman
Einar Kärgenberg
Raphael Lagarde
Roman Lyach
Ruairi MacNamara
Paco Melià
Paul Meulenbroek
Vincent Nijman
P. Anders Nilsson
Cinzia Podda
Patrick Prouzet
Mehis Rohtla
Niklas Sjöberg
Florian M. Stein
Roxana Sühring
Henrik Svedäng
Carl Tamario
Tessa van der Hammen
Pieterjan Verhelst
Johan Watz
Marc Simon Weltersbach
Håkan Westerberg
Håkan Wickström
Jean Hugé