The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has one of the most fascinating of all animal life cycles. Beginning life as a leaf-shaped  larvae in the Sargasso Sea, they make an incredible migration across the Atlantic Ocean to the rivers and shallow coastal waters of Europe. They enter European rivers as elvers, spending between 12 and 30 years as adult ‘yellow eels’ before undergoing yet another metamorphosis  and starting the long swim back to breed then die in the Sargasso Sea.

Research over the last 30 years has shown all is not well with the European eel, leading to its 2008 Critically Endangered classification in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Recruitment of the European eel across Europe is believed to have declined by up to 95% since the 1980s. Reasons for its decline are thought to be a combination of habitat loss, barriers to migration, presence of a parasite in its swim bladder, over-fishing, and climate change affecting oceanic currents.

Activity Description: In partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), we will be continuing the annual monitoring of the eel trap at Molesey Lock from the end of April until October. The trap will need to be checked at least twice a week and we are looking for volunteers to help. Please only sign up to this training session if you are able to commit to regular checking of the eel trap. The training session will include:

• An introduction to the European eel and its recent decline in recruitment
• Background on the monitoring project
• How the eel traps work and how to collect the data
• Uploading the data to the ZSL site
• Health and safety by the river

Only people aged 18 and over can monitor the trap.

Meeting point: Molesey Lock, Hampton Court, River Thames, KT8 9AW. Google map HERE

What to bring: Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL – please rsvp using the button below and complete the form to secure your spot. If the event is already fully booked then please sign yourself up to the waiting list and we’ll be in touch if a space becomes available.

Booking for this event will close at 5pm on 15th April.

Please email volunteering@southeastriverstrust.org to:

• Find out more information,
• Cancel your space if you can no longer make it.

Photos and video footage will be taken at this event and used by the Trust for promotional purposes (including but not limited to printed materials, social media, newsletters and the website) and potentially shared with our external partners and funders. From time to time, external media agencies could also take photos, film or record our events.

The Trust’s lawful basis for processing this is “Legitimate Interests” under the General Data Protection Regulations. As an individual you have rights. If you wish for SERT to stop processing this data for you, please talk to a member of staff or email info@southeastriverstrust.org.

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