Thursday 3 April 2014

Elver migration in Somerset and Gloucestershire aided by fishermen

Conservationists have been moving millions of elvers - or young eels - upstream in an attempt to give them a better chance of survival.

They are arriving on high spring tides and making their way into UK rivers, including the Parrett in Somerset and the Severn in Gloucestershire.

They need to swim upstream to mature, but in most cases waterways are blocked by man-made obstacles.

Without being helped most would die if they stayed downstream.

'Critically endangered'
Their paths are blocked by hundreds of barriers including weirs, dams and flood defences.

The number of elvers arriving in West Country estuaries on spring tides this year is estimated to be at least 10 times bigger than last year.

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