Eels are disappearing

[potatolord]

I saw this article and it just made me sad.

When I was a kid, around 40 years ago, we used to catch literal bucketfuls of elvers in the local stream during the migration. We'd dump them all back in once the novelty wore off. There would be dozens of kids there.

It seems eels will soon be extinct.

It's mental that's happened in my lifetime.

Eels have vanished from critical parts of Somerset Levels, DNA tests show

Experts shocked as analysis finds no traces of eel DNA in area once teeming with the endangered fish

www.theguardian.com

 

[iron_monkey]

I saw this article and it just made me sad.

When I was a kid, around 40 years ago, we used to catch literal bucketfuls of elvers in the local stream during the migration. We'd dump them all back in once the novelty wore off. There would be dozens of kids there.

It seems eels will soon be extinct.

It's mental that's happened in my lifetime.

Eels have vanished from critical parts of Somerset Levels, DNA tests show

Experts shocked as analysis finds no traces of eel DNA in area once teeming with the endangered fish

www.theguardian.com

There is only one solution.

 

[UTmaniac]

Shame, ~40 years ago as a youngster, we used to catch loads of young eels by hand in the stream next to Tan Y Fron camping site in Dolgellau.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Sad, but hardly surprising.

 

[Junglist]

Saw a massive Eel a few days ago actually. When walking over a river with the dog the sun was at the right angle so I could see into the water. He looked huge at least a meter or so and looked like he had, ahem, a decent amount of girth.

People should probably stop eating them with jelly

 

[Efour]

That's a little bit misleading title story but it's still a shame. Remove the barriers get some eeeeels.

But they are known for finding an entrance where they can and for having solo polo peepers so they might come back.

 

[gazref]

Shocking......I'll get my coat

 

[Diddums]

If you knew what has gone extinct in recent years and what's expected to go extinct in our lifetimes you'd be absolutely amazed. Quite depressing really.

 

[adidan]

The state of our waters I'm surprised anything is still alive tbh.

 

[Bluecube]

So long and thanks for all the fish

 

[labbby]

Decline started about 40 years ago due to children catching them apparently.

 

[robfosters]

I remember the days when they were a pest when you went fishing, there was so many of them.

I think my Nan was responsible for some of the decline, the amount she used to eat. Pretty much a pot of jellied eels a day and stewed eels a couple of nights a week

 

[cu3ed]

Has anyone else noticed how little bug splattter is on their cars now?

 

[Delta3D]

Has anyone else noticed how little bug splattter is on their cars now?

Not sure where you live, but my car definitely hasn't slowed down on bug massacre levels.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Has anyone else noticed how little bug splattter is on their cars now?

Yes. This year has been absolutely awful for insects, I've noticed a massive decline.

 

[cu3ed]

Not sure where you live, but my car definitely hasn't slowed down on bug massacre levels.

Are you chasing them through fields though?

 

[potatolord]

Has anyone else noticed how little bug splattter is on their cars now?

Yep. A four hour drive from North Wales down the a483 and a470 last week and there were hardly any squashed on the windscreen.

My dad pretty much had to hose his car down after a drive like that when I was a kid.

 

[GreatAuk]

European Eel have an amazing reproductive cycle - they actually spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Americas and then migrate to Europe. They have been in decline across Europe for a long time now, and there are many different threats to them, including loss of habitat and barriers to migrating up rivers as in this case.

Sad

 

[Deleted member 77746]

You will be happy to know my local fishing pond has them and breeding.

Next time I catch one I’ll post a pic.

 

[LOAM]

Yes. This year has been absolutely awful for insects, I've noticed a massive decline.

They're all in Mallorca eating the **** out of me.