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Eels Get River Rescue: Weir Removal Underway
17 Jul
Summary
- A £50,000 project is removing a weir to aid eel migration.
- European eels face a 90% decline over the last 30 years.
- Conservation work is funded by the Environment Agency.
Conservation efforts are actively underway to assist the critically endangered European eel. A £50,000 project is currently focused on dismantling a redundant weir located at Glinger Burn, near Longtown.
This initiative by the West Cumbria Rivers Trust aims to facilitate easier migration for eels and other fish species along the river. The European eel population has experienced a significant 90% decline over the past three decades, making such conservation projects vital for their survival.
Assistant director Luke Bryant highlighted the challenges eels faced, particularly when water levels were low, risking injury as they attempted to navigate the weir. The project, supported financially by the Environment Agency, involves a two-week operation using diggers to remove the structure.
