Escapement by Julia Manning RE
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European eels must head to the sea in order to breed. We
know that yellow eels can remain in our waterways for a very long time - eels
have been aged at 85 years in freshwater - before the irresistible urge to
migrate is upon them and the cycle starts afresh. They gradually turn into
silver eels and start to adapt to a marine life whilst in freshwater. Their
eyes and pectoral fins start to enlarge, their bodies become increasingly silver
and their behaviour changes. They develop an incredibly strong urge to migrate
downstream. These migrations are often less than straightforward because of
obstructions. There are other hazards too, they can become vulnerable to
predators and water intakes.
Females and males are different sizes at the point of
migration, the females being up to one metre long, males seldom being longer
than 500mm.