20/11/2024
Elvers Return to the Wild: A Celebration of Conservation
This month marked an exciting milestone at the Avalon Marshes Centre as the elvers residing in our display tank since May were released into the River Axe at Wedmore.
Provided by the Somerset Eel Recovery Project (SERP) as part of their Eels in the Classroom initiative, the tank has offered visitors a rare and fascinating glimpse into the life of these young eels. This initiative also shines a spotlight on the critical conservation efforts aimed at protecting the declining European eel population.
SERP is committed to improving our understanding of eel populations in Somerset’s watercourses, removing barriers to their migration, and implementing emergency measures to boost eel stocks. This initiative, a collaboration between Green Wedmore and the Sustainable Eel Group and supported by Natural England, is more than just a conservation effort—it’s a community project that brings people together to safeguard declining eel populations.
After spending seven months in our public tank delighting and intriguing thousands of visitors, they were finally released into the River Axe at Wedmore by the SERP volunteers.
The public tank has proven so popular with visitors that we’ll be getting a fresh batch of glass eels next spring. In the meantime, our dedicated group of volunteer, the Recorders of Avalon Marshes, will stock the tank with fascinating creatures from our wildlife pond. This will offer visitors an exciting opportunity to learn about the diverse freshwater species thriving on the Levels.
For more on SERP’s inspiring work and to stay updated, visit Somerset Eels.