A total of a quarter of a million baby eels, or elvers, have now been saved from export and consumption abroad, and returned to Herefordshire waters, where they may live on for up to 50 years prior to returning to the sea to spawn.

The Herefordshire Eel Project, which is a collaborative effort between Golden Valley Fish and Wildlife Association, the Lugg and Arrow Fisheries Association, and supporting groups and sponsors, is a response to rapidly dwindling Herefordshire eel stocks, affecting all Herefordshire rivers.

The project has run since 2012, and eel numbers on the targeted local waters have risen eleven-fold in this time, in comparison to a flat-lining or downward trend elsewhere. However the project is not seeking to continually buy and restock eels otherwise destined for export. Its primary objective is to influence a closure on the lawful eel export trade.

Ian McCulloch, who leads the project, focused originally on the Golden Valley, commented: “The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is now critically endangered, on the International Red List, and has plummeted by over 90% within the last 30 years. Some Herefordshire rivers have seen them almost completely disappear in this time.

“On our River Dore the best available survey evidence from the Environment Agency shows eel numbers have responded to our efforts and have risen eleven times since we began the project. This year we have begun restocking the River Arrow, which until relatively recently was a fantastically rich eel fishery but is now almost devoid of adult eels. We have also restocked eels into the lower Wye, placing them back into the river upstream of the commercial fishing activity.”

Tony Norman, of the partnering Lugg and Arrow Fisheries Association, said: “Our Association is firmly behind this project and this year we have committed extra funds towards the restocking work. There has been a catastrophic decline in our River Lugg and Arrow eels, and it is hoped that we can help to reverse this."

Nick Longman, of the Monnow Rivers Association, said in support of the project: “This work is great news but it should not be necessary. We would like to see the Environment Agency stop placating commercial interests and do its duty to maintain fisheries. To continue to licence the commercial catch-for-export of a Red-Listed, critically endangered fish species is indefensible and it should stop immediately.”