PROPOSAL of A MONITORING PLAN for THE EUROPEAN EEL, ANGUILLA ANGUILLA L. 1758, IN SICILY.

We outline a monitoring plan for European eel that has been proposed in 2021, as part of of the preparatory activities for the elaboration of the Regional Eel Management Plan for Sicily (project FEAMP OP 2014/2020, MEASURE 2.49, Sicilian Regional Administration), to be included in the National Management Plan (Regulation EC 1100/2007). Sampling methods and time-frames diversified for juveniles, yellow and silver eels were suggested. Furthermore, for each area of the island, the most suitable environments (rivers, lakes, marshes) to be investigated were identified. The proposed monitoring plan turned out to be valid, in fact it was accepted by the Sicilian Administration and was carried out by the University of Catania, with only a reduction in the number of environments.