Dynamics and predicted decline of Anguillicola crassus infection in European eels, Anguilla anguilla, in Neusiedler See, Austria

The eel population in Neusiedler See has been maintained by regular massive stocking since 1958. After the establishment of the National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel in 1993, eel stocking was prohibited and the population, together with the specific parasites of eels, was predicted to decline to extinction within 10 years. This investigation was undertaken to document the decline and extinction of the Anguillicola crassus population in eels. From 1994 to 2001, 720 eels were collected from two sites in the lake. Prevalence and abundance of A. crassus were lower in spring than in summer and autumn and larger eels harboured more parasites than smaller ones. Neither year of study nor sampling site were correlated with parasite infection levels. No significant trend in the population parameters of A. crassus was detected over the 8 years of the survey. This suggested that there had been no significant decline in the eel population. This suggestion was confirmed by investigations of the fishery, which also found evidence of regular illegal stocking. The stability of the A. crassus population over the past decade seems to reflect the lack of change in eel population density. No mass mortalities of eels occurred over the period despite the many similarities between Neusiedler See and Lake Balaton in Hungary. Differences in eel size, eel diet and the lack of large-scale insecticide use are discussed as possible explanations for the absence of eel mass mortalities in Neusiedler See.