Sustainable eel campaign
Post categories: fish
| 13:45 UK time, Monday, 11 July 2011
There's always a huge air of expectation and excitement at springtime amongst locals along the banks of the River Severn and River Wye as the first eel fry or glass eels begin to arrive.
This mysterious fish, makes the incredible journey from the Sargasso Sea to our waters every year (nearly 3,500 miles) but their numbers are now in serious decline and there are concerns over the eels future.
Factors such as improved flood defences have prevented eels making their amazing journeys up and down our rivers but some locals are now coming up with an action plan to help.
Severn & Wye Smokery, with the help of local chef, Matt Tebbutt, have organised an active educational and restocking programme in Monmouthshire, which comes in two parts:
Eels in Schools
This scheme aims to put an eel tank into local primary schools in Monmouthshire - currently Raglan VC and Cross Ash Primary.
The school children look after and feed the glass eels for a period of weeks, during which time they learn all about the fishery, the environment and the significance of our actions on both.
At the end of term, the eels are then released into the Usk and Wye rivers as part of the restocking project. There are plans to roll this out to other schools next year.
Sustainable Eel Group
Severn & Wye Smokery is already an active member of the .
The group is made up of scientists, government agencies, suppliers and fisherman whose sole interest is the well-being of the eel and they are trying to address the issues that surround the eel.
Richard Cook from the Severn & Wye Smokery has been passionate about eels all of his life: "I have had a very privileged life involved in fishing, exporting and restocking this secretive fish".
Richard who only uses farmed eels in his smokehouse, feels that it's important we are all aware of the issues surrounding the eel and work to preserve this way of life and fishery for our children and future generations.
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