THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGUILLA-ANGUILLA, A FIS H SENSITIVE TO NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES AND VULNERABLE TO VARIOUS PATHOGENIC INJURIES

A lot of aggressive factors, of both natural and anthropic origin, of which eel populations may be the victims, have been reviewed. Data fro m the available literature deal with observations in the field as well as those from experiments in laboratory conditions. These findings co nspicuously demonstrate that the eel is not as resistant as it is gene rally asserted. Its sensitivity and vulnerability to a number df negat ive factors (degradation of the quality of habitats, deteriorating to water quality, parasitosis,...) are so high that they contribute to th e alarming reduction in the European stock that justifies its recent s tatus of threatened species.