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.

Action A1 is an initial project management action with a duration of only a few months. Thereafter, project management will be carried out throughout the entire duration of the project under Action F1. Under Action A1, the agreements between the Coordinating Beneficiary and the project partners have been signed, and each partner has defined the organizational structure that will be involved in the project. In addition, the procedures for the assignment of the planned external contracts have been initiated.

Progress 100%

Protocol for the selection of the best breeders

In the first year of the project, with this action a protocol is developed for the recognition and selection of the best breeders – the best “Silver eels” – to be released into the wild. This protocol is not only applied within the framework of the project (Action C1) with restocking, but is also promoted and encouraged its application by valley growers and breeders, in order to effectively increase the reproductive potential of the natural eel population.
The protocol is based on biometric parameters that are easy to measure and evaluate, to facilitate their application in the field as much as possible.

Action A2 was a preparatory action and served as a prerequisite for the implementation of several subsequent actions. The action was carried out in Italy and Greece and resulted in the development of a protocol capable of distinguishing migrating eels from pre-migrating eels with a good level of accuracy, based on selected morphometric parameters.

The protocol was developed in Italy by Dr. Mordenti of the University of Bologna (Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences), in collaboration with the University of Ferrara, the Emilia-Romagna Po Delta Park and the Veneto Po Delta Park. In Greece, the project benefited from the collaboration of Dr. Sapounidis of the Fisheries Research Institute.

To define the protocol, seven eel populations from the northern Adriatic area were analyzed in Italy. Six of these populations are located within the lagoon areas of the Veneto Po Delta Park (Valle Bonello, Valle San Carlo, Valle Cà Pasta and Valle Scanarello) and the Emilia-Romagna Po Delta Park (Comacchio Lagoons and Valle Nuova), while the seventh population is located further north in the Marano-Grado lagoon area. In Greece, the eel population inhabiting the Vistonida lagoon within the National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace was investigated. The sampling campaign involved the morphometric analysis of more than 1,600 adult female eels, the majority of which originated from Italy and a smaller proportion from Greece.

The protocol operates by entering only two morphometric parameters into the software (total length and eye diameter). Based on these data, eels can be classified into three different categories: resident (non-migrating) eels, fully migrating eels (100%), and eels with a migration probability exceeding 90%.

Thanks to this LIFEEL project output, fisheries managers and practitioners now have access to a reliable tool for selecting the most suitable spawners for release in support of natural reproduction, representing a further significant step forward in the conservation of the European eel. The protocol and the related instructions can be downloaded from the homepage of this website.

Progress 100%

Designing eels passages

This action is preparatory to Action C3 of construction  the passages.
Specific structures are designed for the Eel, in particular for its youth stages, to allow it to overcome artificial barriers otherwise insurable in their journey of ascent of waterways to reach the areas of growth.

During this action, seven structures were designed to restore the upstream migration of juvenile eels in the Po River basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece.

The detailed engineering designs were submitted to the competent authorities. Specifically, they concern the construction of six blue infrastructures in Italy and one in Greece. In Italy, three eel ramps were designed for the Panaro River (Bondeno, Santa Bianca–Casumaro and Nonantola). In the Po Delta, two vertical-slot fish passes, both equipped with eel ramps fitted with eel substrate mats, were designed at Tieni and Valle Lepri, together with a dedicated eel pass incorporating a monitoring trap at Val Pagliaro.

In Greece, an eel pass was designed for the Toxotes Dam on the Nestos River.

Progress 100%

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.

Sub-action 4.1 involved the assessment of approximately 2,000 km of river corridor within the Po River basin, where 30 hydropower plants were identified as posing a threat to the European eel. Each facility was characterised, making it possible to establish a priority ranking for future interventions. The information collected was incorporated into a dedicated geodatabase and subsequently used to develop the *Guidelines for Ensuring the Compatibility of Hydropower Facilities with the Downstream Migration of adult eels.

Sub-action 4.2 focused on the design of an experimental deterrent system for downstream-migrating adult eels at the water intake of the Enel Green Power hydropower plant in Creva, on the Tresa River in the Province of Varese, Italy. The design includes the installation of a metal screen equipped with submerged strobe lights at the plant’s water intake to deter adult eels from entering the intake structure.

Progress 100%

Plan of priority measures to restore river connectivity for eel

With this action, or rather with sub-action A5.1, the first “Plan to restore the continuity and connection of the main river network at basin scale, both in Italy in the lowland sector of the Po basin, and in Greece, in the Basin of the River Nestos, will be drawn up.
With action A5.2, the GUIDELINES for the compatibility of hydroelectric works with the descent of Silver eels will instead be developed.

In Italy, a priority river corridor was identified, encompassing the river network of the Po River basin that is considered strategic for the conservation of the European eel. The corridor includes 33 rivers (2,850 km), 8 lakes, and more than 1,000 hydraulic structures. The Plan identifies the main barriers to river connectivity and establishes priorities for interventions aimed at restoring river continuity, facilitating eel migration, and mitigating the impacts of hydropower facilities.

In Greece, the Priority Action Plan for River Connectivity in the EMU-3/Nestos River System was developed. The assessment confirmed that the LIFEEL interventions successfully restored river connectivity, with no need for further major infrastructure works, while recommending maintenance measures and actions to prevent future river fragmentation.

Based on the meetings held with hydropower operators and the knowledge gained through Action A4, the final version of the Guidelines was produced. This document is intended as a practical tool for hydropower operators, conservation practitioners, and public authorities. It provides operational guidance for the design and adaptation of hydropower facilities, promoting the implementation of eel guidance and deterrent systems to protect the downstream migration of the European eel and to support environmental permitting and authorization procedures.

Progress 100%

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.

During each project year, selected broodstock were released into the sea during the final months of the year (from August to December), following the protocol developed under Action A2. The initial phase of their spawning migration towards the Sargasso Sea was monitored under Action D1.2 through the use of innovative tagging systems.

From the 2020/2021 spawning season through to the 2025/2026 season, a total of 13.507 broodstock were released along the Italian Adriatic coast and in Greece, including 12.301 individuals in Italy and 1.206 in Greece.

Progress 100%

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

The primary objective of this action is to contrast a practice that is still widespread throughout the range of the species of collection into the wild of large quantities of eels at youth stages for human consumption or breeding, however also aimed at consumption.
With this action a completely original method is developed and applied, to study by the University of Bologna for some years, which allows the reproduction in captivity of sexually mature subjects and therefore the first growth of larvae, until the moment of liberation into nature, which takes place at sea.

Through this action, captive breeding of sexually mature individuals and the first rearing phase of eel larvae were developed and implemented. A major proportion of the larvae produced was released into the sea, while the remaining individuals were used to test different diets aimed at supporting their development towards subsequent life stages.

The activities were carried out annually and started in September/October with the preparation of the tanks used to host the broodstock. Broodstock selection took place in November and December through the application of the protocol developed for the identification of the most suitable reproductive individuals. From this stage until July, a series of critical phases were carried out, including hormonal induction for sexual maturation and spontaneous reproduction. Subsequently, fertilized eggs were incubated and, after hatching, leptocephali were fed during the initial rearing phase until their release into the sea.

The releases of leptocephali into the wild, which took place on average 14–40 days after hatching, started during the 2021/2022 spawning season and were carried out every season until 2026. Overall, more than 14 million leptocephali were released into the wild throughout the project.

Progress 100%

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.

The seven blue infrastructures designed under Action A3 were constructed and became operational during this action. Their implementation restored the upstream migration of juvenile eels in the Po River basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece.

Specifically, the interventions completed in Italy include three eel ramps on the Panaro River (Bondeno, Santa Bianca–Casumaro and Nonantola). In the Po Delta area, two vertical-slot fish passes were constructed, both equipped with eel channels fitted with eel substrate mats (Tieni and Valle Lepri), together with a dedicated eel pass incorporating a monitoring trap at Val Pagliaro.

In Greece, an eel pass was constructed at the Toxotes Dam on the Nestos River.

Progress 100%

Implementation of a deterrence system for downstream migration of eels

With this action the experimental deterrence system designed during Action A4 will be realized and installed at the Creva dam (Province of Varese) on the Tresa River. The deterrence system will be calibrated and its effectiveness in deterring eel from taking the route to the turbines of the hydropower plant will be assessed.

The experimental deterrent system designed under Action 4.2 for the Creva hydropower plant (Tresa River, Creva, Italy) consists of a deterrent device based on the use of submerged strobe lights installed on the inner side of the grid located at the water intake structure.

The experimental deterrent system was installed in January 2024 with the support of a team of specialised divers. The LED lights, arranged in multiple rows along the entire height of the grid protecting the water intake, can emit either a continuous light or an intermittent light with variable frequency and intensity. Furthermore, thanks to a water-level detection system, only the submerged lights are activated, preventing the operation of lights outside the water.

The activation and deactivation of the deterrent system are scheduled annually to coincide with the downstream migration period of adult eels. During the project, monitoring campaigns were carried out to assess the effectiveness of the installation (Action D2).

Progress 100%

Monitoring the effectiveness of selected silver eels releases

The purpose of this Action is to verify, on the one hand, the validity of the protocol for the selection of the best eel breeding animals developed with Action A2; on the other hand, the effectiveness of silver eels restocking in increasing the wild stock will be assessed.

This action was developed along two main lines: on the one hand, the selection of the most suitable broodstock and the continuous monitoring of fertilised egg production and subsequent developmental stages; on the other hand, the monitoring of the early migratory phases of selected and tagged adult specimens, carried out with the involvement of recreational and professional fishermen.

To facilitate the reporting of any tagged eels, a brochure was produced and distributed to fishermen and fish markets. In addition, the LIFEEL Alert online reporting system was activated (available on this website at the following link: https://lifeel.eu/fai-la-tua-segnalazione/).

During the spawning seasons carried out throughout the project, between 133 and 173 broodstock were selected annually in Italy and Greece, resulting in the production of millions of eggs overall.

Regarding the monitoring of the early migration phases of selected broodstock towards the Sargasso Sea, three monitoring systems were used: T-anchor Tags (externally applied plastic elastomer tags), acoustic transmitters (inserted into the fish’s coelomic cavity), and pop-up tags (externally applied devices capable of releasing a component towards the water surface, where it can be tracked via GPS).

The results were encouraging, as several specimens were successfully “tracked” even at considerable distances from the release sites, confirming the reliability of the selection protocol developed.

Progress 100%

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

This Action monitors the ex-ante phase and  the ex-post phase the migration of eel specimens to environments where they will spend the accretion phase in the inland waters. The monitoring will verify the effectiveness of the eel passages built with the Action C3 and the effectiveness of the deterrence system installed at the Creva Dam. The latter will be useful for the implementation of the guidelines developed in Action A5.

Action D2 achieved its main objective of assessing the effectiveness of the LIFEEL project conservation measures during two key phases of the European eel life cycle: the upstream colonization of continental growth habitats by juvenile eels and the downstream reproductive migration of adult silver eels towards the sea. The multi-year ex ante surveys documented an extremely low recruitment of glass eels and elvers in the Po Delta and in the lower section of the Po River. The first ex post monitoring season demonstrated that the new eel passes constructed within the LIFEEL project were effectively used by glass eels, elvers and yellow eels.

At Isola Serafini, long-term video monitoring provided direct evidence of the presence of adult European eels and their movements in the central section of the Po River, several hundred kilometres upstream from the Delta. All four recorded individuals moved downstream by crossing the artificial channel of the existing fish pass. At Creva, the combination of a light-based deterrent system and a safe alternative migration route resulted in an estimated downstream migration success rate of 66% during the first monitoring campaign and 69% during the second one. Both values exceeded the original LIFEEL project target, which aimed to protect at least 50% of the eels monitored during downstream migration.

Progress 100%

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.

The objective of this action was to monitor the outcomes of artificial reproduction during the different larval development stages by testing different diets provided to leptocephali. To achieve this goal, a proportion of the leptocephali produced under Action C2 were retained and fed with different diets in order to identify the most effective feeding strategy.

Throughout the project, more than 3 million leptocephali were used for these experiments. Before the start of the project, the attractiveness of the provided food sources was very limited. However, thanks to the new diets tested, a survival rate of 3.9% was achieved, with individuals surviving up to 45 days after hatching.

Progress 100%

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.

This action assesses the impact of the project through overall project monitoring, the evaluation of socio-economic impacts, and the assessment of ecosystem services. The overall progress of the project is monitored through continuous coordination between the coordinating beneficiary and the project partners.

With regard to the monitoring of socio-economic impacts and ecosystem services, three questionnaires were submitted to the main stakeholders. In Italy, both paper-based and digital questionnaires were distributed, resulting in more than 900 responses from 64 provinces. In Greece, the same approach was followed, and approximately one hundred valid responses were collected.

Progress 100%

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.

The initiatives and communication materials aimed at informing and raising awareness among the general public and the different stakeholder groups were carried out through several channels. The project website represents an important reference point for anyone interested in learning more about the project. It is supported by Facebook and Instagram pages, which allow project updates and news to be disseminated quickly and effectively. In addition, a YouTube channel is available, where videos showcasing some of the project activities are published.

The awareness-raising and communication plan also included the production of newsletters, press releases, information panels, brochures, T-shirts and gadgets. Numerous dissemination events were organised in Italy and Greece. These events involved not only stakeholders but also members of the general public. Furthermore, the project was presented on several occasions through major television and radio programmes. Finally, raising awareness among young people represented another important aspect of this action. By the end of the project, more than 10,000 students had been involved in educational activities in Italy and Greece. The project’s final event, held in Comacchio and lasting three days, involved more than 2,000 participants through conferences, field excursions and educational workshops.

Progress 100%

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

The objective of this action was to promote dissemination and networking activities within the technical and scientific community. Throughout the project, more than 20 scientific publications and technical articles were produced. In addition, the project team participated in 12 national and international events, where the results of the project activities were presented.

During the project, LIFEEL established contacts with 9 different projects and initiated networking activities with 6 of them.

Progress 100%

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.

Progress 95%

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

Progress 100%

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.

Action A1 is an initial project management action with a duration of only a few months. Thereafter, project management will be carried out throughout the entire duration of the project under Action F1. Under Action A1, the agreements between the Coordinating Beneficiary and the project partners have been signed, and each partner has defined the organizational structure that will be involved in the project. In addition, the procedures for the assignment of the planned external contracts have been initiated.

Protocol for the selection of the best breeders

Progress 100%

In the first year of the project, with this action a protocol is developed for the recognition and selection of the best breeders – the best “Silver eels” – to be released into the wild. This protocol is not only applied within the framework of the project (Action C1) with restocking, but is also promoted and encouraged its application by valley growers and breeders, in order to effectively increase the reproductive potential of the natural eel population.
The protocol is based on biometric parameters that are easy to measure and evaluate, to facilitate their application in the field as much as possible.

Action A2 was a preparatory action and served as a prerequisite for the implementation of several subsequent actions. The action was carried out in Italy and Greece and resulted in the development of a protocol capable of distinguishing migrating eels from pre-migrating eels with a good level of accuracy, based on selected morphometric parameters.

The protocol was developed in Italy by Dr. Mordenti of the University of Bologna (Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences), in collaboration with the University of Ferrara, the Emilia-Romagna Po Delta Park and the Veneto Po Delta Park. In Greece, the project benefited from the collaboration of Dr. Sapounidis of the Fisheries Research Institute.

To define the protocol, seven eel populations from the northern Adriatic area were analyzed in Italy. Six of these populations are located within the lagoon areas of the Veneto Po Delta Park (Valle Bonello, Valle San Carlo, Valle Cà Pasta and Valle Scanarello) and the Emilia-Romagna Po Delta Park (Comacchio Lagoons and Valle Nuova), while the seventh population is located further north in the Marano-Grado lagoon area. In Greece, the eel population inhabiting the Vistonida lagoon within the National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace was investigated. The sampling campaign involved the morphometric analysis of more than 1,600 adult female eels, the majority of which originated from Italy and a smaller proportion from Greece.

The protocol operates by entering only two morphometric parameters into the software (total length and eye diameter). Based on these data, eels can be classified into three different categories: resident (non-migrating) eels, fully migrating eels (100%), and eels with a migration probability exceeding 90%.

Thanks to this LIFEEL project output, fisheries managers and practitioners now have access to a reliable tool for selecting the most suitable spawners for release in support of natural reproduction, representing a further significant step forward in the conservation of the European eel. The protocol and the related instructions can be downloaded from the homepage of this website.

Designing eels passages

Progress 100%

This action is preparatory to Action C3 of construction  the passages.
Specific structures are designed for the Eel, in particular for its youth stages, to allow it to overcome artificial barriers otherwise insurable in their journey of ascent of waterways to reach the areas of growth.

During this action, seven structures were designed to restore the upstream migration of juvenile eels in the Po River basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece.

The detailed engineering designs were submitted to the competent authorities. Specifically, they concern the construction of six blue infrastructures in Italy and one in Greece. In Italy, three eel ramps were designed for the Panaro River (Bondeno, Santa Bianca–Casumaro and Nonantola). In the Po Delta, two vertical-slot fish passes, both equipped with eel ramps fitted with eel substrate mats, were designed at Tieni and Valle Lepri, together with a dedicated eel pass incorporating a monitoring trap at Val Pagliaro.

In Greece, an eel pass was designed for the Toxotes Dam on the Nestos River.

Analysis and guidelines to favor the downstream migration to the sea in the Po basin

Progress 100%

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.

Sub-action 4.1 involved the assessment of approximately 2,000 km of river corridor within the Po River basin, where 30 hydropower plants were identified as posing a threat to the European eel. Each facility was characterised, making it possible to establish a priority ranking for future interventions. The information collected was incorporated into a dedicated geodatabase and subsequently used to develop the *Guidelines for Ensuring the Compatibility of Hydropower Facilities with the Downstream Migration of adult eels.

Sub-action 4.2 focused on the design of an experimental deterrent system for downstream-migrating adult eels at the water intake of the Enel Green Power hydropower plant in Creva, on the Tresa River in the Province of Varese, Italy. The design includes the installation of a metal screen equipped with submerged strobe lights at the plant’s water intake to deter adult eels from entering the intake structure.

Plan of priority measures to restore river connectivity for eel

Progress 100%

With this action, or rather with sub-action A5.1, the first “Plan to restore the continuity and connection of the main river network at basin scale, both in Italy in the lowland sector of the Po basin, and in Greece, in the Basin of the River Nestos, will be drawn up.
With action A5.2, the GUIDELINES for the compatibility of hydroelectric works with the descent of Silver eels will instead be developed.

In Italy, a priority river corridor was identified, encompassing the river network of the Po River basin that is considered strategic for the conservation of the European eel. The corridor includes 33 rivers (2,850 km), 8 lakes, and more than 1,000 hydraulic structures. The Plan identifies the main barriers to river connectivity and establishes priorities for interventions aimed at restoring river continuity, facilitating eel migration, and mitigating the impacts of hydropower facilities.

In Greece, the Priority Action Plan for River Connectivity in the EMU-3/Nestos River System was developed. The assessment confirmed that the LIFEEL interventions successfully restored river connectivity, with no need for further major infrastructure works, while recommending maintenance measures and actions to prevent future river fragmentation.

Based on the meetings held with hydropower operators and the knowledge gained through Action A4, the final version of the Guidelines was produced. This document is intended as a practical tool for hydropower operators, conservation practitioners, and public authorities. It provides operational guidance for the design and adaptation of hydropower facilities, promoting the implementation of eel guidance and deterrent systems to protect the downstream migration of the European eel and to support environmental permitting and authorization procedures.

Release of selected silver eels into the wild

Progress 100%

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.

During each project year, selected broodstock were released into the sea during the final months of the year (from August to December), following the protocol developed under Action A2. The initial phase of their spawning migration towards the Sargasso Sea was monitored under Action D1.2 through the use of innovative tagging systems.

From the 2020/2021 spawning season through to the 2025/2026 season, a total of 13.507 broodstock were released along the Italian Adriatic coast and in Greece, including 12.301 individuals in Italy and 1.206 in Greece.

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

Progress 100%

The primary objective of this action is to contrast a practice that is still widespread throughout the range of the species of collection into the wild of large quantities of eels at youth stages for human consumption or breeding, however also aimed at consumption.
With this action a completely original method is developed and applied, to study by the University of Bologna for some years, which allows the reproduction in captivity of sexually mature subjects and therefore the first growth of larvae, until the moment of liberation into nature, which takes place at sea.

Through this action, captive breeding of sexually mature individuals and the first rearing phase of eel larvae were developed and implemented. A major proportion of the larvae produced was released into the sea, while the remaining individuals were used to test different diets aimed at supporting their development towards subsequent life stages.

The activities were carried out annually and started in September/October with the preparation of the tanks used to host the broodstock. Broodstock selection took place in November and December through the application of the protocol developed for the identification of the most suitable reproductive individuals. From this stage until July, a series of critical phases were carried out, including hormonal induction for sexual maturation and spontaneous reproduction. Subsequently, fertilized eggs were incubated and, after hatching, leptocephali were fed during the initial rearing phase until their release into the sea.

The releases of leptocephali into the wild, which took place on average 14–40 days after hatching, started during the 2021/2022 spawning season and were carried out every season until 2026. Overall, more than 14 million leptocephali were released into the wild throughout the project.

Realization of eels passages

Progress 100%

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.

The seven blue infrastructures designed under Action A3 were constructed and became operational during this action. Their implementation restored the upstream migration of juvenile eels in the Po River basin in Italy and in the Nestos River in Greece.

Specifically, the interventions completed in Italy include three eel ramps on the Panaro River (Bondeno, Santa Bianca–Casumaro and Nonantola). In the Po Delta area, two vertical-slot fish passes were constructed, both equipped with eel channels fitted with eel substrate mats (Tieni and Valle Lepri), together with a dedicated eel pass incorporating a monitoring trap at Val Pagliaro.

In Greece, an eel pass was constructed at the Toxotes Dam on the Nestos River.

Implementation of a deterrence system for downstream migration of eels

Progress 100%

With this action the experimental deterrence system designed during Action A4 will be realized and installed at the Creva dam (Province of Varese) on the Tresa River. The deterrence system will be calibrated and its effectiveness in deterring eel from taking the route to the turbines of the hydropower plant will be assessed.

The experimental deterrent system designed under Action 4.2 for the Creva hydropower plant (Tresa River, Creva, Italy) consists of a deterrent device based on the use of submerged strobe lights installed on the inner side of the grid located at the water intake structure.

The experimental deterrent system was installed in January 2024 with the support of a team of specialised divers. The LED lights, arranged in multiple rows along the entire height of the grid protecting the water intake, can emit either a continuous light or an intermittent light with variable frequency and intensity. Furthermore, thanks to a water-level detection system, only the submerged lights are activated, preventing the operation of lights outside the water.

The activation and deactivation of the deterrent system are scheduled annually to coincide with the downstream migration period of adult eels. During the project, monitoring campaigns were carried out to assess the effectiveness of the installation (Action D2).

Monitoring the effectiveness of selected silver eels releases

Progress 100%

The purpose of this Action is to verify, on the one hand, the validity of the protocol for the selection of the best eel breeding animals developed with Action A2; on the other hand, the effectiveness of silver eels restocking in increasing the wild stock will be assessed.

This action was developed along two main lines: on the one hand, the selection of the most suitable broodstock and the continuous monitoring of fertilised egg production and subsequent developmental stages; on the other hand, the monitoring of the early migratory phases of selected and tagged adult specimens, carried out with the involvement of recreational and professional fishermen.

To facilitate the reporting of any tagged eels, a brochure was produced and distributed to fishermen and fish markets. In addition, the LIFEEL Alert online reporting system was activated (available on this website at the following link: https://lifeel.eu/fai-la-tua-segnalazione/).

During the spawning seasons carried out throughout the project, between 133 and 173 broodstock were selected annually in Italy and Greece, resulting in the production of millions of eggs overall.

Regarding the monitoring of the early migration phases of selected broodstock towards the Sargasso Sea, three monitoring systems were used: T-anchor Tags (externally applied plastic elastomer tags), acoustic transmitters (inserted into the fish’s coelomic cavity), and pop-up tags (externally applied devices capable of releasing a component towards the water surface, where it can be tracked via GPS).

The results were encouraging, as several specimens were successfully “tracked” even at considerable distances from the release sites, confirming the reliability of the selection protocol developed.

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

Progress 100%

This Action monitors the ex-ante phase and  the ex-post phase the migration of eel specimens to environments where they will spend the accretion phase in the inland waters. The monitoring will verify the effectiveness of the eel passages built with the Action C3 and the effectiveness of the deterrence system installed at the Creva Dam. The latter will be useful for the implementation of the guidelines developed in Action A5.

Action D2 achieved its main objective of assessing the effectiveness of the LIFEEL project conservation measures during two key phases of the European eel life cycle: the upstream colonization of continental growth habitats by juvenile eels and the downstream reproductive migration of adult silver eels towards the sea. The multi-year ex ante surveys documented an extremely low recruitment of glass eels and elvers in the Po Delta and in the lower section of the Po River. The first ex post monitoring season demonstrated that the new eel passes constructed within the LIFEEL project were effectively used by glass eels, elvers and yellow eels.

At Isola Serafini, long-term video monitoring provided direct evidence of the presence of adult European eels and their movements in the central section of the Po River, several hundred kilometres upstream from the Delta. All four recorded individuals moved downstream by crossing the artificial channel of the existing fish pass. At Creva, the combination of a light-based deterrent system and a safe alternative migration route resulted in an estimated downstream migration success rate of 66% during the first monitoring campaign and 69% during the second one. Both values exceeded the original LIFEEL project target, which aimed to protect at least 50% of the eels monitored during downstream migration.

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

Progress 100%

Action D3 monitors and evaluates the success of the experimental protocol of production in captivity of the eel developed and implemented with Action C2.

The objective of this action was to monitor the outcomes of artificial reproduction during the different larval development stages by testing different diets provided to leptocephali. To achieve this goal, a proportion of the leptocephali produced under Action C2 were retained and fed with different diets in order to identify the most effective feeding strategy.

Throughout the project, more than 3 million leptocephali were used for these experiments. Before the start of the project, the attractiveness of the provided food sources was very limited. However, thanks to the new diets tested, a survival rate of 3.9% was achieved, with individuals surviving up to 45 days after hatching.

Monitoring of the overall impact of the project

Progress 100%

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.

This action assesses the impact of the project through overall project monitoring, the evaluation of socio-economic impacts, and the assessment of ecosystem services. The overall progress of the project is monitored through continuous coordination between the coordinating beneficiary and the project partners.

With regard to the monitoring of socio-economic impacts and ecosystem services, three questionnaires were submitted to the main stakeholders. In Italy, both paper-based and digital questionnaires were distributed, resulting in more than 900 responses from 64 provinces. In Greece, the same approach was followed, and approximately one hundred valid responses were collected.

Information and awareness raising activities

Progress 100%

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.

The initiatives and communication materials aimed at informing and raising awareness among the general public and the different stakeholder groups were carried out through several channels. The project website represents an important reference point for anyone interested in learning more about the project. It is supported by Facebook and Instagram pages, which allow project updates and news to be disseminated quickly and effectively. In addition, a YouTube channel is available, where videos showcasing some of the project activities are published.

The awareness-raising and communication plan also included the production of newsletters, press releases, information panels, brochures, T-shirts and gadgets. Numerous dissemination events were organised in Italy and Greece. These events involved not only stakeholders but also members of the general public. Furthermore, the project was presented on several occasions through major television and radio programmes. Finally, raising awareness among young people represented another important aspect of this action. By the end of the project, more than 10,000 students had been involved in educational activities in Italy and Greece. The project’s final event, held in Comacchio and lasting three days, involved more than 2,000 participants through conferences, field excursions and educational workshops.

Technical dissemination and networking

Progress 100%

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

The objective of this action was to promote dissemination and networking activities within the technical and scientific community. Throughout the project, more than 20 scientific publications and technical articles were produced. In addition, the project team participated in 12 national and international events, where the results of the project activities were presented.

During the project, LIFEEL established contacts with 9 different projects and initiated networking activities with 6 of them.

Project management and After LIFE activities

Progress 95%

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.