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Bid to boost endangered eel population

South Cumbria Rivers Trust A long, brown eel being measured in a grey container. A red bucket and grass can be seen below.South Cumbria Rivers Trust
European eels can grow up to a metre in length

Plans have been lodged to boost a population of endangered eels by helping them access upstream habitats.

European eels have experienced a 90% decline across the UK over the past 25 years, but South Cumbria Rivers Trust is working to improve migration rates in the area to re-establish their numbers.

The charity has applied to build rock ramps at the weirs at Pennington Beck in Ulverston.

Trust project officer Hannah Teagle said weirs and barriers have contributed to the decline, alongside pollution and climate change.

South Cumbria Rivers Trust has applied to Westmorland and Furness Council to install rocks from a local quarry to create low flow channels with resting pools so the eels can swim up the weirs.

It's hoped the improvements will also help other species, such as trout, to swim upstream.

South Cumbria Rivers Trust A small weir with water falling down into the river. Stone walls border the river and fields and trees surround it.South Cumbria Rivers Trust
The charity wants to install rock ramps so the eels can travel upstream

European eels can grow up to a metre long, but the ones found in Cumbria tend to be around 40cm.

"They're a critically endangered species and really important to our ecosystems," said Ms Teagle.

"Anything we can do to help them and re-establish their numbers is really important to do."

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