Classrooms Welcome Eels to Save Critically Endangered Species

European eels make one of nature's most incredible journeys, drifting 3,106 miles from their birthplace near Bermuda to Britain's rivers and wetlands. Now, after swimming Earth's waters since dinosaur times, they need our help to survive.

The species has crashed by 90% in recent decades, earning it a critically endangered status. Dams, water pumps, and other human-made structures block their migration routes, while overfishing, pesticides, and climate change add to their struggles.

But communities across England are fighting back with an unexpected ally: children. The Somerset Eel Recovery Project brought live eels into 59 classrooms in 2024, letting students learn firsthand about these remarkable creatures and the challenges they face.

"Eels are a great vehicle to explain rivers, wetlands, migratory fish and how they all link to birds and food chains," said Andrew Kerr, one of the project's directors. The group traveled to Westminster this week urging MPs to include eels in the proposed Natural History GCSE curriculum.

The creatures were once so abundant in medieval England that people used them as currency. Today, conservationists are working to restore that abundance through practical solutions.

The Environment Agency has improved fish passage at over 100 migration barriers this year, including a major barrier project in Bridgwater. Meanwhile, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust partners with 22 landowners to restore wetlands and create eel-friendly pathways along the River Severn.

The Ripple Effect

The eel recovery efforts are transforming entire ecosystems. As wetlands get restored for eels, countless other species benefit from improved water quality and habitat connectivity.

Emma Hutchins from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust acknowledges the work will take decades to show full results. But she emphasizes that eels play a critical role in river and estuary ecology that ripples through entire food chains.

The education component matters just as much as habitat work. "They're not lovely, fluffy and cute, and we need people to understand that all of wildlife is important," Hutchins said.

Students who spend time with classroom eels become ambassadors for rivers and wetlands in their communities. They learn that saving species requires understanding the connections between water systems, wildlife, and human infrastructure.

The Department for Education confirmed it worked with experts to develop the natural history GCSE content, which will help students build understanding of British habitats and wildlife while preparing them for careers in growing environmental sectors.

These combined efforts offer real hope that eels will continue their epic Atlantic crossings for generations to come.