| Summary: | The European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) is a catadromous fish species, with population trends presenting significant declines over the last four decades. These declines throughout their range have resulted in their classification as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN. In addition, the European Union has implemented specific legislation surrounding A. anguilla , requiring member states to develop eel management plans [The EC Eel Regulation (1100/2007)]. Aimed to facilitate increased recruitment, these regulations state >40% of historic eel biomass should be allowed safe passage between inland waters and the sea. Cyprus however, applied and were granted an exemption from this, on the basis that there are no rivers on the island of suitable habitat and flow regimes which naturally host A. anguilla (2009/310/EC). Following this decision, recent findings have suggested that historically eels were more widespread in Cyprus than previously recognised. Indeed, a study by Zogaris et al. (2012) indicated that eels are likely the island's most widespread native species. Cyprus' freshwater lotic systems are dominated by intermittent rivers and streams, however the natural state and fish populations of these systems are poorly understood. The freshwaters of the island are now heavily fragmented, and with an estimated 108 dams retaining water are host to one of the highest densities of dam reservoirs in Europe. These interruptions to longitudinal connectivity lead to degraded freshwater systems in the lowlands, but despite this the island does have perennial freshwaters, particularly in the western side of the island and at higher elevations. If A. anguilla are indeed present in inland Cyprus, one key deterministic factor on their survival could be access to perennial summer refugia. Here, multiple monitoring methods were applied to build knowledge on present day eel distribution in Cyprus. By increasing knowledge regarding distribution, we can re-evaluate whether conservation initiatives are in fact justified and ...
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