Pre-release processes influencing short-term mortality of glass eels in the French eel (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) stocking programme

Published source details Josset Q., Trancart T., Mazel V., Charrier F., Frotté L., Acou A. & Feunteun E. (2016) Pre-release processes influencing short-term mortality of glass eels in the French eel (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) stocking programme. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 73, 150-157.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Change capture, transport or release methods to increase survivorship of translocated (‘stocked’ or ‘restocked') eels Action Link

Change capture, transport or release methods to increase survivorship of translocated (‘stocked’ or ‘restocked') eels

A replicated, controlled study in 2011–2013 in 17 river sites in France (Josset et al. 2016) found that holding wild-caught European glass eels Anguilla anguilla in captivity for longer periods before translocation resulted in lower mortality rates after release. During 15 days after release, translocated wild glass eels that had been held in captivity for longer periods (maximum 45 days) had lower mortality rates than those held in captivity for shorter periods (minimum 7 days; data reported as statistical model results). Wild-caught glass eels were held in captivity for 7–45 days (average 21 days) before being translocated to six closed hoop nets (length: 1.5 m, diameter: 30 cm; 50 eels/net) at each of 17 sites across multiple rivers. Half of the eels at each site were marked with Alizarin Red dye for identification. After 15 days, remaining live eels in each net were counted to calculate mortality rates.

(Summarised by: Sam Reynolds)