Eels are released into River Lagan

Six thousand have already been released into Hillsborough Lake by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, financed by the Lough Neagh Fisherman’s Cooperative Society Ltd.

Downshire East Alliance representative Aaron McIntyre welcomed the initiative stating, “This is an exciting long term experiment that should go a long way to addressing the declining wild eel population, which has dropped by 95% across Europe in recent years.

“These juvenile eels will hopefully mature to renew breeding stocks in the Lagan river system, and it is my understanding that a number of the eels are marked so that their progress can be tracked over the next number of years. This scheme will breathe new life into the Lagan.