Four million eels for Lower Saxony: a fight for survival!

Four million eels for Lower Saxony: a fight for survival!

Niedersachsen, Deutschland - Green light for the European eel: On June 17, 2025, the four millionth eel in Lower Saxony was left to water, and this is a real reason for the joy for all anglers and nature lovers of the region. Coordinated by the Lower Saxony Angler Association and supported by 197 Angelverein and a generous donation from the initiative to promote the European AAL e.V., this project is part of a comprehensive stocking campaign that serves to maintain the strongly endangered eel. Since March 5, around four million young animals have been suspended in over 150 rivers and streams in Lower Saxony. The campaign ended on June 14th in the Göttingen district and comprises 34 counties.

But what is specific behind this impressive number? It all started with 2.5 million glass beads that were imported from France. In the past few months, another 1.5 million farmals were added, which were placed in the waters with the support of 40,000 euros from Aalinitiative e.V. The goal is clear: prevent the extinction of the eel in northern Germany rivers and streams. Especially since the eel fish in 2025 and is considered to be very endangered is all the more important.

an alarming decline

The number of glass halls in Europe has dropped by over 95 percent since the 1980s. The causes are diverse: weirs and hydropower plants make many eels impossible to swim upstream. Blankaals that want to take the way back to their spawning areas are also affected. An estimated around 270 tons of migrating blanks are killed every year by hydropower plants and cooling water withdrawals. Some experts speak of about half a million animals that no longer return to the waters.

But also illegal activities contribute to the decline in eel population. Tens of millions of glass halls are usually exported to Asia, where they are considered a delicacy. The black market price for one kilogram of eels can be sometimes higher than that for ivory or cocaine. In order to stop these machinations, an eel catching ban was issued in the coastal waters in Lower Saxony since 2023. However, monitoring of these provisions remains a challenge.  Fisch and Fang reports of the flourishing poaching that exists despite hardened law.

Together against the dangers

The more initiatives such as the eel initiative mentioned above and the commitment of the angler associations are important in order to ensure the existence of the eels. In Lower Saxony, over 50 million eels have been brought to the waters since 2011. 60 percent of the AAL stock program is financed by the EU and the state of Lower Saxony, the rest comes from the committed fishing associations and the eelinitiative e.V.

However, the challenges are enormous. Diseases such as eelherpes and parasites such as the swimming bubble worm also endanger the animals' chances of survival. In combination with environmental toxins by pollutants and the changes in water habitats through straightening, eels have suffered greatly in recent decades. Thanks to numerous research projects, such as the eel Foreverver , the eel stock should be more stable again.

The common effort for eel protection has an effect and makes hope. It remains to be hoped that the optimistic efforts to not only maintain the eel, but also to strengthen, bear fruits. After all, there is hardly a nicer feeling, as if you know that you actively contribute to saving a fascinating species.