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

Mukherjee, Nibedita ; Clarhäll, Anders ; Scharin, Henrik ; Svensson, Matilda LU ; McCarthy, Arlie H. ; Greenlee, John Wyatt ; Alexa, Ovidiu ; Algera, Dirk A. ; Aprahamian, Miran and Asturiano, Juan F. , et al. (2026) In Global Ecology and Conservation 68.
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... (More)

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.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Conservation, Delphi technique, European eel, Management, Policy
in
Global Ecology and Conservation
volume
68
article number
e04257
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105040554790
ISSN
2351-9894
DOI
10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04257
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors
id
0514ce9e-a796-47b2-95f2-72b08993002d
date added to LUP
2026-06-30 10:04:22
date last changed
2026-08-13 13:50:24
@article{0514ce9e-a796-47b2-95f2-72b08993002d,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mukherjee, Nibedita and Clarhäll, Anders and Scharin, Henrik and Svensson, Matilda and McCarthy, Arlie H. and Greenlee, John Wyatt and Alexa, Ovidiu and Algera, Dirk A. and Aprahamian, Miran and Asturiano, Juan F. and Ben Ammar, Imen and Bianchini, Marco L. and Björkvik, Emma and Bolland, Jonathan D. and Cairns, David K. and Briand, Cédric and Ciccotti, Eleonora and Domingos, Isabel and Elvidge, Chris K. and Eyler, Sheila and Geffroy, Benjamin and Griffiths, Nathan P. and Grilo, Tiago F. and Januchowski-Hartley, Stephanie and Jellyman, Don and Kärgenberg, Einar and Lagarde, Raphael and Lyach, Roman and MacNamara, Ruairi and Melià, Paco and Meulenbroek, Paul and Nijman, Vincent and Nilsson, P. Anders and Podda, Cinzia and Prouzet, Patrick and Rohtla, Mehis and Sjöberg, Niklas and Stein, Florian M. and Sühring, Roxana and Svedäng, Henrik and Tamario, Carl and van der Hammen, Tessa and Verhelst, Pieterjan and Watz, Johan and Weltersbach, Marc Simon and Westerberg, Håkan and Wickström, Håkan and Hugé, Jean}},
  issn         = {{2351-9894}},
  keywords     = {{Conservation; Delphi technique; European eel; Management; Policy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Global Ecology and Conservation}},
  title        = {{Assessing the conservation challenges for the European eel through the Delphi technique}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04257}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04257}},
  volume       = {{68}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}