Assessing anguillid eels for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Process, Challenges and Progress

From 1st - 5th July 2013, a workshop was convened in London by the IUCN Anguillid Specialist Sub-Group (ASSG), where global eel experts assessed 13 of the 16 anguillid species under the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Prior to the workshop only five anguillids had been globally assessed and it was widely agreed that a full assessment of these fishes was required. Following the workshop, an external review process was carried out for each species to ensure the assessments were as robust as possible. Once expert input had been collated, assessments were revised – and in some cases, the Category changed – before submission to the IUCN Red List Unit. It was clear prior to the workshop that there would be challenges in assessing the anguillids relating to their life history, available data and the policy and economics associated with these species. Key data gaps were identified as part of the process, which included (dependent on the species): range, escapement and spawning stock metrics, relative importance of non-freshwater populations, and influence of oceanographic processes. The challenges of applying the criteria, how they were addressed, consensus building during the review process, and recommendations for conservation actions will be presented.