Passes for eels

Published: Monday, 05 July 2010

THE Environment Agency has built eel passes on the Nene, and Kyme Eau  to help the creatures migrate around flood defences.

At a cost of £11,000 these are  to help the creatures migrate around flood defence structures that would otherwise block their path, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Nene and Kyme Eau

The passes have been installed at Castor Mill on the Nene and at Bottom Lock on the Kyme Eau, as well as two other locations.  The specially designed structures will help young eels swim upstream of the obstacles and also allow mature eels to migrate back to the sea. There are plans to install further passes.

Caroline Tero, Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Team Leader at the Environment Agency, explained:

"Impassable river barriers have contributed to the recent drop in the numbers of eel and elver seen in our rivers. Barriers can lower the survival rate of juvenile eels moving upstream and also prevent adult eels from returning to the sea to spawn.

The eel passes, which  were funded by Defra as part of the Environment Agency's Eel Management Plan.