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Abstract: Current knowledge about the downstream migration of sexually mature European eels (Anguilla anguilla) remains incomplete, particularly in still water habitats such as lakes and wetlands subject to water level management. However, for the management of this endangered species, it is important to understand migration dynamics, and contribution to the breeding stock. This study aimed to assess the parameters that trigger and guide the migration of silver eels in the largest floodplain lake and associated wetlands in France (the sluice regulated Grand‐Lieu Lake). A telemetry survey of 50 acoustic and PIT‐tagged female silver eels was performed during the 2015–2016 migration period. We deployed a novel telemetric approach, using receivers to delimit several restricted virtual boxes to determine the instantaneous location of individuals and to transform simple discrete telemetric data into presence/absence data. The low numbers leaving the lake centre are probably explained by the lack of orienting water flows or other environmental clues, but whilst the fate of 34% (17/50) of the tagged eels is unknown, 18% (9/50) were caught by commercial fishermen. Modelling showed that detections were not clearly associated with environmental factors typically involved in riverine migrations (e.g. current velocity, atmospheric pressure and temperature) but they were particularly associated with higher and increasing water levels and, for eels exiting the lake, a sharp increase when sluice gates were opened to an effective gap of >75 cm. It is concluded that management of water levels and sluice gate opening during the migration period might aid escapement of silver eels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncommon fish records may reflect local or global changes of fish composition resulting from environmental changes or anthropogenic activities. Significant records of uncommon marine fishes, including migrant, non-native, cryptic, rare and threatened species, collected in French waters or by French vessels in European waters, observed by scuba divers or beachgoers, are reported for the year 2019. They include first, new, rare and unusual records for the following 33 species: Tetronarce nobiliana, Gymnothorax unicolor, Maulisia mauli, Salmo trutta, Grammonus ater, Photostomias guernei, Ijimaia loppei, Echiodon drummondii, Holocen- trus adscensionis, Nerophis lumbriciformis, Scorpaena scrofa, Lepidotrigla dieuzeidei, Eutelichthys leptochirus, Liparis montagui, Mycteroperca rubra, Serranus cabrilla, Remora remora, Caranx crysos, Naucrates ductor, Trachurus picturatus, Seriola rivoliana, Argyrosomus regius, Parablennius pilicornis, Pseudoscopelus astro- nesthidens, Deltentosteus collonianus, Didogobius schlieweni, Didogobius splechtnai, Gobius couchi, Gobius gasteveni, Lebetus guilleti, Synapturichthys kleinii, Lagocephalus lagocephalus and Mola mola, among which I. loppei, H. adscensionis and P. astronesthidens represent first records for the French waters and additions to the Checklist of the marine fishes from metropolitan France. Photostomias guernei is a first record for the Bay of Biscay, found close the French EEZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River infrastructures such as weirs, hydropower stations or water reservoirs represent obstructions to migration for diadromous fish. Knowledge of accurate behaviour of fish in front of such structures is required to protect migrants from hazardous areas, guide them towards safe passage or adapt structure to improve the escapement. We developed and made available a method to process acoustic telemetry data based on Time Difference Of Arrival analysis to accurately locate tagged fish. Improved accuracy allows the detection of escape routes and description of dam‐crossing tactics. Sixteen tagged eels were tracked with high accuracy (1–2 m) and ~1 location min−1 frequency during their exploration period on reaching the dam. Two migration routes (spillways and bottom compensation flow pipe) were used by 77% and 23% of eels respectively. Spillways were the preferred route, but a median of 16 days were required to pass the dam versus 1.1 days via the compensation pipe. A minimal water crest of 40 cm was required for passage via spillways. Eels passing through the compensation pipe were exclusively nocturnal and mainly explored the bottom of the dam. Eels passing through spillways explored the whole dam area by night and day, and were not attracted to the compensation pipe entrance. With global warming, more frequent drought periods are expected, potentially leading to decreased opportunities for eels to migrate across safer dams by spillways. To conserve this endangered species, dam management strategies that account for expected hydrologic conditions and distinct exploration behaviours are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The drastic decline in European eel Anguilla anguilla stock is now widely recognized. However, while various causes for this decline have been identified, the relative importance of each cause remains unclear. 2. During the catadromous migration of silver eels, the negative impact of dams is frequently highlighted, but mainly for powered dams (with turbines) or where connectivity is completely ruptured. Mechanical impact due to turbine blades is often considered the most important cause of mortality of silver eels during downstream migration. Consequently, non-powered dams equipped with spillways are often considered safe for the passage of migrating silver eels. 3. We hypothesized that, to understand the negative impacts of dams, a much wider context must be considered than turbine mortality alone. Using an acoustic telemetry survey of silver eels, we demonstrated the negative effects of non-powered dams on downstream migration. 4. Five main impacts on eel populations were highlighted: (i) the attenuation or loss of triggering factors, leading to an absence of or delay in migration; (ii) extra delays and extra distances travelled when crossing the dam; (iii) extra energetic costs of the additional distance travelled as result of exploring the dam and the reservoir to find other escape passages; (iv) the selection of a more risky behavioral phenotype, i.e., bold eels; and (v) direct blocking once migration has started. Mortality was evaluated as a supplementary impact. Some of these effects (attenuation of triggers, extra delays to cross the dam) might be more important than the same effect from powered dams, probably due to the constant high water discharge required for turbines that facilitate the passage of eels. 5. As these "safe" dams are very widespread, they must be considered a potential threat to effective eel conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]