Eels in Schools - Twickenham Academy

The Environment Trust has teamed up with Eels in Schools programme and Twickenham Academy to introduce children to the plight of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and the aims of the Sustainable Eel Group. Year 7 students will feed the young eels (elvers) for eight weeks, before releasing them into a local river, probably the River Crane. Around 200 tiny elvers are kept in a standard fish tank fitted with an oxygenator and water filtration device, and a small heater to maintain the water temperature at around 22 degrees celsius. This temperature will ensure the elvers remain active, feed and grow. Over the course of the eight weeks, students will be able to observe the elvers and becoming darker in colour. (Listen to Open Country to learn more about the plight of the eel http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kblcs).
The reasons for the dramatic decline in eel numbers in recent decades is debated, with an alternative view expressed by the Marine Conservation Society, that no eel fishing or restocking should take place. They have placed the European eel on their list of fish not to eat http://www.fishonline.org/fish/eel-european-136 and http://www.fishonline.org/fish-advice/avoid. What do you think? Join the debate.

No elvers yet, they'll arrive next week

Display boards explain the extraordinary life-cyle of the European eel.

As promised, the elvers have arrived.

After being looked after by the pupils at Twickenham Academy, a lucky few got to release them into the nearby River Crane.

Everyone has a go.

The elvers remain transparent because they've been raised in daylight.

Each tray of elvers is introduced slowly to prevent 'shocking' them.

Year 7s excitedly release the elvers into their local river, the River Crane in west London.

After the children had headed back to school, the elvers make their way upstream.