Cornish Biodiversity Network  -  Supporting Wildlife Recording

   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z restore

Cornish Red Data (2009)

The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.

Anguilla anguilla - European Eel



Range & Status

A catadromous species found in rivers and on the seashore. Populations of the Common Eel are threatened at present, stocks have declined in recent years, probably due to pollution, over-fishing, habitat degradation, parasitic infection and climate change, all having been forwarded as potential causes of decline. Current information indicates that there has been a major decline in the number of ' glass eels' (unpigmented juveniles, found in estuaries in early spring) during the last two decades throughout Europe, including Britain although Cornish populations seem to be in a good state of health. Listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and also on the UK List of Priority Species (2007).



Click here to see Aphotoflora images by David Fenwick

Source:

I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.

The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.