Introductions of invasive non‐native species (and their subsequent impacts) are recognized as a major threat to native flora and fauna. This is especially true in island ecosystems such as the tropical island of Martinique. In 2018, one such aquatic invasive species, the suckermouth catfish Hypostomus robinii (Loricariidae), was reported for the first time in two of the islands rivers. H. robinii is a popular freshwater aquarium fish and native to tropical and sub‐tropical South America. Since its initial discovery, a growing number of populations have been found, suggesting a larger distribution of this species through Martinique's hydrographic network. Here, we developed a novel survey technique (utilizing environmental DNA) and conducted a widespread survey across the island to assess the distribution of this invasive species. We were able to detect H. robinii in 22% of sites surveyed (18 out of 83) via our eDNA‐based assay. The presence of these fish was confirmed using traditional trapping at 14 of these sites. Additionally, we used occupancy modeling to investigate the impact of different environmental covariates on the detection efficiency of the novel assay and the potential impacts of false positives and negatives. We highlight a decrease in the detection probability when water volume filtered increases. That said, the eDNA‐based method proves a useful tool for the detection of this invasive fish species and monitoring its spread for management purposes.

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Biodiversity act, which was adopted on the 8th of August 2016, has strengthened the legal frame of compensatory measures, unifying a framework that was progressively developed since nature’s protection act (law n° 76-629 of 10th July 1976), especially through environmental assessment. In France, compensation related issues have particularly arisen during the last ten years regarding big infrastructures projects, one of the most iconic being Notre-Dame-des-Landes project, state project implying the construction of a new airport in the North-west area of Nantes’ agglomeration. Conceived in the 70’ s, the project’s implementation would involve the destruction of hundreds of wetlands, and thousands of protected species typical from former french rural landscapes («bocage » ), requiring compensatory measures in several environnemental authorizations according to environmental Code (water act authorization, derogation for protected species). Notre-Dame-des-Landes’ project is now subject to a mediation process driven by Ecological and solidary transition Ministry, mediators having to analyze the project’s alternatives before the 1st of December 2017. It’s the occasion to put the legal issues of this project in perspective with the new framework stemming from Biodiversity Act, to see how Notre-Dame-des-Landes’ lessons have contributed to an evolution of compensation legal provisions, especially regarding guarantees given by the project initiator to prove the sufficiency and feasibility of compensatory measures.

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