Somerset Communities Revive Endangered Eels Through Science and Folklore
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📰 The quick summary: Somerset’s eel population is being revived through a blend of science, folklore and community activism, helping restore a critically endangered species that once shaped the region’s cultural identity.
📈 One key stat: European eel populations have dropped by more than 90% since the 1970s, with Somerset’s Bridgwater Bay seeing a devastating 99% decline between 1980 and 2009.
💬 One key quote: “Eels have fascinated me for a long time. I have gone from poacher to gamekeeper: cooking them to realising how important it is to protect these extraordinary, charismatic creatures,” said celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
1️⃣ The big picture: The Somerset Eel Recovery Project (Serp) is leading an innovative conservation effort that combines scientific methods with cultural revival to save the critically endangered European eel. These once-abundant creatures have seen their populations plummet by over 90% since the 1970s due to overfishing, pollution, migration barriers, and climate change. The project installs eel tanks in schools, organizes storytelling events, conducts citizen science efforts, and creates traditional rope passages to help eels navigate barriers. By weaving together ecological restoration with cultural memory, Serp is not only working to save a keystone species but also reconnecting communities with their historical relationship to these remarkable animals.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This innovative approach to conservation demonstrates how cultural heritage can be leveraged to protect endangered wildlife. By installing 60 eel tanks in local classrooms last year, the project is educating a new generation about these remarkable creatures while building emotional connections to their preservation. Traditional methods like straw rope-making serve dual purposes – creating pathways for young eels to navigate barriers while engaging communities in hands-on conservation. The project has attracted high-profile supporters including Feargal Sharkey and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, bringing national attention to eel preservation. Beyond saving a single species, the effort helps restore entire wetland ecosystems while reviving forgotten cultural traditions, showing how environmental restoration can strengthen community identity.
3️⃣ What’s next: Serp will continue expanding its school programs while developing more citizen science initiatives to track eel populations. Habitat restoration work will focus on creating additional passages around barriers that block eel migration. The group aims to increase public awareness by documenting and sharing traditional eel-related stories and practices before they’re lost to time.
Read the full story here: The Guardian – Activists blend science and folklore as they try to revive Somerset’s eel population
