| Abstract |
Coastal marshes of Vendée constitute a favourable habitat for European eel (Anguilla anguilla), species classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the context of territorial water contract Vie Jaunay 2022 – 2024, the objective of the “Syndicat mixte des Marais, de la Vie, du Ligneron et du Jaunay” and LOGRAMI are to achieve favorable improvements for biodiversity and european eel in the marsches. Three marshes of salt marsh of “la Basse Vallée de la Vie », defined as special focus area for european eel, were selected for this project. The goal for 2022 is to make, before the planed works and improvements, the diagnosis of the eel population and to study the recruitment of eels in the marshes in order to estimate the current population. Two monitoring protocols were established : the first one consist of using flottang, a type of trap to catch eels less than 150 mm and the second one to use pots. The results of the two monitoring protocols have made it possible to identify aging eel populations present in marshes for many years with a low recruitment of young eels and a high rate of old female eels. Works and improvements of reconnexion of marshes seem essential to curb the decline of this species. |