FiveRivers were commissioned by Atkins Ltd. under Thames Water Utilities Ltd’s AMP7 Catchment Management Programme to conduct a trap and transfer project in summer 2021, with the primary aim of removing and translocating as many IUCN Red List ‘Critically Endangered’ European eel (Anguilla anguilla ) as practical, from Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir. Reintroducing fish to unbounded areas of downstream habitat provides translocated eel the opportunity to complete their > 5000 km spawning migration to the Sargasso Sea and assist in the recovery of European eel stock.
30 doubled-ended knotless fyke nets were deployed across the 128 ha reservoir, over the four week trap and transport programme period. A total of 124 European eel were captured and translocated. Individuals ranged in size from 250 mm to 900 mm. Total measured weight of translocated eel was 93.8 kg.
This report is an overview of the evidence gathered during the trap and transport programme.