“Eels have a remarkable life cycle” - project aims to teach people about the River Glaven’s secretive inhabitants

an eel pass which has already been installed under Glandford Mill with eel bristles at the side (green) – this is before water was let down the pass (Credit Ian Shepherd). (Image: Archant)

But the humble European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has seen its population shrink by up to 90pc in recent decades, due to over-exploitation, barriers to migration and infection by parasites.

Now, a new £97,500 grant means work to protect it can begin in Norfolk's River Glaven and communities and schools can be educated about the secretive creature.

The Heritage Lottery Fund funding was awarded to the Norfolk Coast Partnership, to reconnect current generations with the eel, its folklore and the few remaining eel catchers on the river.

Tim Venes, Norfolk Coast Partnership manager, said little was now known about the eel, and hoped the the Glaven Eel project would reveal some of its mysteries.

Sargasson Eel

At one stage villages such as Salthouse were famous for the amount of eels caught during the annual 'eel run', and eel 'babbing' competitions were held on Blakeney Marshes, with people catching the fish with a baited thread of wool. Every north Norfolk river would have had an eel catcher.

'Eels have a remarkable life cycle,' said Mr Venes. 'Even today, little is known about eels and the project will substantially add to the knowledge around them, and the role they play in the ecology of the precious chalk rivers of the Norfolk Coast.

He added: 'Children have no experience of elvers or adult eels and in a few decades the rich cultural heritage that surrounds the eel could be lost for good.

'This project will change that, reconnecting eels with the local community.'

Eel passers with rough surfaces for elvers to wriggle up will be installed at points along the River Glaven, helping eels bypass man-made barriers such as sluices, weirs and locks.

But those wishing to spot an eel while walking near the river may be disappointed, as Mr Venes said the creatures tended to be nocturnal, and swam near the bottom of rivers and ponds. He added: 'We want to be enable schoolchildren and the public to see and appreciate eels, and will make those opportunities available.'

The project is expected to begin in April, when nearby schools will be contacted and work to install passers will begin.

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