The European Mink Association is developing a project to protect this species against the colonisation of the American mink in the Ebro River.

“Prevention against the expansion of the American mink and improvement of knowledge about the European mink” is a project of the European Mink Association that has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment.

This project is being developed to improve the conservation status of the European mink in Spain. The general objectives of the project are the detection and control of the American mink (Neovison vison) in the Ebro River for the conservation of the European mink (Mustela lutreola) in Aragon, as well as to improve knowledge and public opinion regarding the conservation status of this species within its distribution area and in the area of influence.

To promote the conservation of the European mink, work is being done to detect a possible colonization of American mink in the Ebro River itself and to propose its eradication in that section of the river in the Autonomous Community of Aragon.

The fieldwork is being supported by awareness-raising and dissemination actions on the biology and conservation status of the European mink in four autonomous communities (Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon and Castilla y León), within its distribution area, a fact that is significantly improving its knowledge. To this end, informative talks are held in educational centers and for the general public, including cultural centers and associations. There are also children’s workshops where games are played about the species, footprints and masks that help to differentiate the two species of mink.

With the work carried out since 2014, which began with projects developed by the Biodiversity Foundation together with the European Mink Association and has continued within the framework of the LIFE LUTREOLA SPAIN project, encouraging results are collected and demonstrate that it can be real to achieve a successful eradication of Neovison vison for the first time in Spain.