The actions of the Project
Like all projects financed by the LIFE instrument of the European Community, LIFEEL is structured according to a precise scheme of actions which include: a package of preparatory and preparatory actions for the actual conservation actions, indicated by the letter “A”; a package of conservation actions “C”, which includes all the concrete interventions put in place by the project for the conservation – in this case – of the target species Anguilla; a set of “D” actions to monitor the effectiveness of the conservation actions carried out by the project, for the verification of the actual results achieved; an “E” action group of dissemination, education and involvement of the various target groups and stakeholders identified by the project; an “F” group of actions to manage and coordinate all work and partnership. The actions of the LIFEEL Project:
Start of the Project
With this initial action, each project partner takes the first strategic steps for the consolidation of the partnership, the definition of the working groups, the formation of the overall coordination and management team of the entire project, composed of representatives of all the partners: the so-called “STEERING COMMITTEE”. With this action are also identified and implemented the first of procedures for entrusting the external tasks foreseen and necessary from the first year, such as that related to the Project Manager.

The A1 is an initial management action of the project activities and has a duration of a few months, subsequently, for the entire duration of the project, the management will be carried out with the F1 Action. With Action A1 the agreements between the beneficiary Coordinator and the partners have been signed and each partner has defined its own organizational chart that will be used in the project, in addition, the procedures for the assignment of the external assignments envisaged have been started.
Protocol for the selection of the best breeders

Designing eels passages

The action involves the design of 7 structures useful to restore the upstream migration of young eels in the Po basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece. The projects, currently being completed, concern the construction of 6 blue infrastructures in Italy and 1 in Greece. In Italy the design concerns 3 works on the Panaro River and 3 on the Po delta, while in Greece the passage for eels will be designed on the Toxotes dam. In both countries, the projects are almost ready to be forwarded to the competent authorities.
Analysis and guidelines to favor the downstream migration to the sea in the Po basin

The activities envisaged in the two sub-actions are proceeding according to plan. With regard to sub-action 4.1, a research of information regarding the hydroelectric plants of interest has been started, which will continue in the coming months to arrive at the implementation of the planned guidelines. For sub-action 4.2, which involves the design of an experimental system for deterrence of eels at the Enel Green Power plant in Creva on the Tresa River, the project has been defined and consists in the positioning of submerged strobe lights at the grid positioned to protect the water intake of the plant.
Plan of priority measures to restore river connectivity for eel

Release of selected silver eels into the wild
Throughout the project, using the selection protocol developed with action A2, Silver eels will be released annually, selected as “most promising” breeding, precisely to increase the reproductive potential of the natural population of eel. This action will be carried out in Italy and Greece. The technical and scientific coordination for the activities in Italy will be carried out by the University of Ferrara with the participation of the University of Bologna, the parks of the Po Veneto delta and Emiliano. In Greece, the action will be led by the Fisheries Research Institute – ELGO DIMITRA and in both countries the involvement of valliculture and fishermen will be crucial.

Development of a captive breeding program for eels larvae and release into the wild

Realization of eels passages for upstream migration of young eels
The passages to allow free up-stream migration, specific to young eels, designed with the A3 action will be carried out in Italy at three different sites of the Po Delta and on the Panaro River and and in Greece, along the River Nesto At the Toxotes Dam. Two ramps that will be built on the Panaro River will be built not only for young eels, but for all fish fauna, thus restoring river connectivity in the stretch of plain and hill.

Action C3 will start in 2022.
Implementation of a deterrence system for downstream migration of eels

Monitoring the effectiveness of selected silver eels releases

Monitoring the effectiveness of the passages built in Action C3 and monitoring of the deterrence system

Monitoring of the results of the breeding programme for juvenile stages of eel
Action D3 monitors and evaluates the success of the experimental protocol of production in captivity of the eel developed and implemented with Action C2.

Monitoring of the overall impact of the project
Fundamental action to evaluate the overall success of the Project and to calibrate the progress of the individual actions. It will be carried out throughout the project and will involve all partners.

Information and awareness raising activities
Project communication action, in this action will be implemented various initiatives and products aimed at informing and raising awareness among the population and the different categories of stakeholders about the urgency of taking action for the conservation of the eel and the activities of the project itself.

Technical dissemination and networking
Information, technical and scientific exchange and cooperation with other research groups dealing with similar activities in other parts of the European Union

Project management and After LIFE activities
Management and general coordination of the project ensured through a defined management structure that involves the whole partnership and is favored by the presence of a single Project Manager. In addition, the After LIFE plan will be drawn up and implemented when the project is completed, in order to give continuity to the eel conservation measures undertaken during the Project.

The actions of the Project
Like all projects financed by the LIFE instrument of the European Community, LIFEEL is structured according to a precise scheme of actions which include: a package of preparatory and preparatory actions for the actual conservation actions, indicated by the letter “A”; a package of conservation actions “C”, which includes all the concrete interventions put in place by the project for the conservation – in this case – of the target species Anguilla; a set of “D” actions to monitor the effectiveness of the conservation actions carried out by the project, for the verification of the actual results achieved; an “E” action group of dissemination, education and involvement of the various target groups and stakeholders identified by the project; an “F” group of actions to manage and coordinate all work and partnership. The actions of the LIFEEL Project:
Start of the Project

With this initial action, each project partner takes the first strategic steps for the consolidation of the partnership, the definition of the working groups, the formation of the overall coordination and management team of the entire project, composed of representatives of all the partners: the so-called “STEERING COMMITTEE”. With this action are also identified and implemented the first of procedures for entrusting the external tasks foreseen and necessary from the first year, such as that related to the Project Manager.
The A1 is an initial management action of the project activities and has a duration of a few months, subsequently, for the entire duration of the project, the management will be carried out with the F1 Action. With Action A1 the agreements between the beneficiary Coordinator and the partners have been signed and each partner has defined its own organizational chart that will be used in the project, in addition, the procedures for the assignment of the external assignments envisaged have been started.
Protocol for the selection of the best breeders

Designing eels passages

The action involves the design of 7 structures useful to restore the upstream migration of young eels in the Po basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece. The projects, currently being completed, concern the construction of 6 blue infrastructures in Italy and 1 in Greece. In Italy the design concerns 3 works on the Panaro River and 3 on the Po delta, while in Greece the passage for eels will be designed on the Toxotes dam. In both countries, the projects are almost ready to be forwarded to the competent authorities.
Analysis and guidelines to favor the downstream migration to the sea in the Po basin

This action addresses one of the threats that most affect the entire natural stock of eel, not only the population of the Po basin: the spread of hydroelectric power plants on the river grid. Mature eels, potential breeding animals that have embarked on their journey of descent of waterways into the sea, can come across turbines and the latter, if not properly designed, can turn out to be real deadly traps for eels. With this action will be carried out the first systematic reconnaissance of all the hydroelectric power plants present on the grid of main interest for the eel, in the plain basin of the River Po, coming to define the best mitigation solutions and therefore the GUIDELINES FOR THE COMPATIBILITY OF HYDROELECTRIC STRUCTURES WITH THE DOWNHILL MIGRATION OF SILVER EELS (sub-action A4.1). An experimental eel deterrence system will also be designed with sub-action A4.2: a device capable of deterring the eel from taking the water supply channel to the hydroelectric power plant.
The activities envisaged in the two sub-actions are proceeding according to plan. With regard to sub-action 4.1, a research of information regarding the hydroelectric plants of interest has been started, which will continue in the coming months to arrive at the implementation of the planned guidelines. For sub-action 4.2, which involves the design of an experimental system for deterrence of eels at the Enel Green Power plant in Creva on the Tresa River, the project has been defined and consists in the positioning of submerged strobe lights at the grid positioned to protect the water intake of the plant.
Plan of priority measures to restore river connectivity for eel

Release of selected silver eels into the wild

Throughout the project, using the selection protocol developed with action A2, Silver eels will be released annually, selected as “most promising” breeding, precisely to increase the reproductive potential of the natural population of eel. This action will be carried out in Italy and Greece. The technical and scientific coordination for the activities in Italy will be carried out by the University of Ferrara with the participation of the University of Bologna, the parks of the Po Veneto delta and Emiliano. In Greece, the action will be led by the Fisheries Research Institute – ELGO DIMITRA and in both countries the involvement of valliculture and fishermen will be crucial.
Development of a captive breeding program for eels larvae and release into the wild

Realization of eels passages

Action C3 will start in 2022.
Implementation of a deterrence system for downstream migration of eels

Monitoring the effectiveness of selected silver eels releases

Monitoring the effectiveness of the passages built in Action C3 and monitoring of the deterrence system

Monitoring of the results of the breeding programme for juvenile stages of eel

Monitoring of the overall impact of the project

Information and awareness raising activities

Technical dissemination and networking

Project management and After LIFE activities
