The Guernsey Nature Commission has launched an appeal for island residents to document observations of European eels and share information about historical sightings or known habitats where the fish were previously present. The initiative aims to improve scientific understanding of the species and its current distribution across the island.
According to the Nature Commission, European eel populations have experienced a dramatic 95% decline beginning in the 1980s. Primary causes cited include the loss of freshwater habitats and physical barriers that prevent the fish from accessing inland feeding grounds. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the European eel as critically endangered, placing it in the conservation category indicating the greatest risk of extinction.
Ecologist Charlotte Burgoine explained that European eels follow a catadromous breeding pattern, originating in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, developing in freshwater environments, and returning to marine waters to reproduce. She noted the species exhibits nocturnal hunting behavior and can reach lifespans of up to 80 years. Currently, the Nature Commission and Guernsey Water are collecting environmental DNA samples from the island’s freshwater ponds and streams to better determine eel presence and distribution.
The decline in eel populations reflects broader environmental pressures affecting freshwater ecosystems. Habitat degradation stems from drainage operations, land clearance activities, improper habitat management, and pollution. These pressures have resulted in fragmented and isolated waterbodies that may prevent eels from migrating between locations. Coastal and inland infrastructure, including pipes and dams, further impedes the movement of eels as they attempt to migrate inland to feeding grounds. Burgoine indicated that as European eel populations continue declining globally, gathering population data from Guernsey would contribute valuable insights to conservation efforts.
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