European eel (Anguilla anguilla) throughout its natural range

Abundance of the European eel stock (all stages glass eel, yellow eel and silver eel) is at a historical minimum and

continues to decline. Recruitment is also at a historical low level and continues to decline. All glass eel recruitment

series show clear and marked reductions since the early 1980s. For the different areas (Baltic, continental North Sea,

continental Atlantic, British Isles, and Mediterranean), current recruitment is between 1 and 9% of that observed in the

1970s.

Recruitment in 2008 and 2009 has been especially low.