Rallying support to protect Somerset's final remaining eel population

In the heart of England, a unique initiative is taking shape, aiming to rekindle a lost connection between people and European eels. The Somerset Eel Recovery Project (SERP) is an innovative endeavour that brings together artists, historians, environmentalists, scientists, and local citizens in a quest to revive the once thriving eel population.

At the forefront of this artistic outreach is Somerset artist, Julia Manning. Her series of linocuts, inspired by conversations with eel experts, have been displayed at SERP's first 'eel conference' and in galleries and hospitals, captivating audiences with their intricate detail and profound symbolism.

The project's investigations have revealed some startling findings. Through eDNA tests on the River Axe and its surrounding ditches, it was discovered that while there is DNA evidence of eels in the river, the waterways on either side show very few or none. This underscores the urgency of the project's mission.

To engage the community, SERP has organised monthly 'eel cafes' and set up elver tanks in schools, inspiring thousands of local people to take an active interest in the project. The heritage craft of rush weaving is also being utilised to create low-cost interim measures, such as rush ropes to be draped over barriers in the river, enabling elvers to pass over.

Vanessa Becker-Hughes, a resident of Somerset and founder of the Somerset Eel Recovery Project, remembers catching up to 200 European eels in the 1970s using a traditional technique called 'rayballing'. The decline in eel numbers over her lifetime has been dramatic, with the population decreasing by about 95%.

Recognising the eel's historical significance, the project aims to restore it as a household symbol of water, similar to the honey bee being a symbol for pollination and clean air. Hannah Strode, a primary schoolteacher, has played a pivotal role in this mission, setting up 59 elver tanks in various schools, inspiring children and teaching them about European eels.

The project has received financial backing through a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising £14,000 in just a few weeks. The support from the community has been overwhelming, with children showing excitement and asking deep, philosophical questions about the nature of being human and eels.

Not everyone is optimistic, however. Andrew Kerr, chairman of the European-wide science and conservation-led Sustainable Eel Group, has expressed concern that the drainage system and the river system in Somerset are not being managed as a whole, from the point of view of fish.

Despite these challenges, the Somerset Eel Recovery Project remains undeterred. The project plans to obtain permits from the Environment Agency to catch elvers and release them upstream, trial acoustic monitoring of eel populations, and host elver tanks in community settings as well as schools.

Through artistic outreach, citizen science, and the collaboration of experts, the Somerset Eel Recovery Project is striving to rebuild the connection between people and eels, and in doing so, help these enigmatic creatures reclaim their rightful place in the heart of Somerset.