Somerset is taking significant steps to support its critically endangered eel population by installing new eel passes on key water control structures across the county. These passes enable eels to safely navigate obstacles like weirs, sluice gates, and flood defenses. Remarkably, some eel species migrate up to 4,000 miles from their breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean near the U.S. East Coast.
European eels have suffered a dramatic decline the last 40 years, with populations plummeting around 95%. To combat this, Natural England has partnered with the Parrett Internal Drainage Board to install 12 new eel passes in the North Moor and Kings Sedgemoor areas. More passes will be introduced in the coming months and years by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of the early stages of the Bridgwater tidal barrier project.
Each spring, large numbers of European eels arrive at the Severn Estuary before migrating inland via the River Brue and River Parrett. However, Somerset’s many water control structures, essential for flood prevention, often block their migration routes. This limits eels from reaching the upper river areas where they mature and reproduce. Eel passes serve as “ladders,” allowing eels to bypass these barriers and traverse the county’s intricate network of rhynes and drainage ditches.
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Simon Phelps, project lead for Natural England, emphasized the importance of this work: “Eels are a fascinating and essential species for Somerset. They need our help to survive, and partnering with the Parrett Internal Drainage Board to install these eel passes has been a vital step. We are hopeful to expand these efforts to make the Levels and Moors more hospitable for these special creatures.”
Phil Brewin, ecologist with the drainage board, added: “Restoring eel access to Somerset’s extensive ditch network is a key priority. By working with local partners and communities, we aim to reverse the population declines seen in recent decades. These passes, alongside other conservation efforts, give us strong hope for a brighter future for eels in the Levels.”
As part of the approximately £230 million Bridgwater tidal barrier project, the EA plans to install new eel and fish passes upstream on both the River Parrett and River Tone. Applications have been submitted for facilities at Bradford-on-Tone Weir, between Taunton and Wellington, and Ham Weir near Martock, with Somerset Council expected to decide by late summer.
Officials assure that the new structures will not negatively affect flood risk. During flood events, significant bypassing of these structures occurs, and any impact on flow deflection or channel volume will be minimal and localized, ensuring no increase in flood risk.
An in-depth update on the Bridgwater tidal barrier project is scheduled for presentation at the upcoming Somerset Rivers Authority board meeting in Bridgwater on June 6.