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

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

Green light for the European eel: On June 17, 2025, the four millionth eel was released into the water in Lower Saxony, and that is a real reason for joy for all anglers and nature lovers in the region. Coordinated by the Lower Saxony Anglers' Association and supported by 197 fishing clubs as well as a generous donation from the Initiative for the Promotion of the European Eel e.V., this project is part of a comprehensive stocking campaign that serves to preserve the species of the highly endangered eel. Since March 5th, around four million young animals have been released into over 150 rivers and streams in Lower Saxony. The campaign ended on June 14th in the Göttingen district and covers 34 districts.

But what exactly is behind this impressive number? It all started with 2.5 million glass eels imported from France. In the past few months, a further 1.5 million farmed eels have been released into the waters with the support of 40,000 euros from the Aalinitiative e.V. The goal is clear: Prevent the extinction of the eel in northern Germany's rivers and streams. This is even more important since the eel is the fish of 2025 and is considered critically endangered.

An alarming decline

Since the 1980s, the number of glass eels in Europe has fallen by over 95 percent. The causes are varied: Dams and hydroelectric power plants make it impossible for many eels to swim upstream. Silver eels that want to return to their spawning areas are also affected. It is estimated that around 270 tonnes of migrating silver eels are killed each year by hydroelectric power plants and cooling water withdrawals. Some experts speak of around half a million animals that no longer return to the waters.

But illegal activities also contribute to the decline in the eel population. Tens of millions of glass eels are usually exported to Asia, where they are considered a delicacy. The black market price for a kilogram of eels can sometimes be higher than that for ivory or cocaine. In order to stop these machinations, a ban on eel fishing in coastal waters has been issued in Lower Saxony since 2023. However, monitoring these provisions remains a challenge.  Fish and catch reports on the flourishing poaching that exists despite toughened laws.

Together against the dangers

Initiatives such as the eel initiative mentioned above and the commitment of anglers' clubs are all the more important in order to sustainably secure the eel population. In Lower Saxony, over 50 million eels have been introduced into the waters since 2011. The eel stocking program is 60 percent financed by the EU and the state of Lower Saxony, the rest comes from the committed fishing clubs and the Aalinitiative e.V.

However, the challenges are enormous. Diseases such as eel herpes and parasites such as swim bladder worms further endanger the animals' chances of survival. In combination with environmental toxins caused by pollutants and changes in water habitats due to straightening, eels have suffered greatly in recent decades. Thanks to numerous research projects like these Eel Forever initiated, the eel population should become more stable again.

The joint effort to protect eels is having an impact and gives hope. It remains to be hoped that the optimistic efforts to not only preserve the eel, but also to strengthen it again, bear fruit. After all, there is hardly a better feeling than knowing that you are actively helping to save a fascinating species.