Scientist Hopeful for Eels Future as Ely elebrates
{Scientist Hopeful for Eels – Earth and Leaf editorial}
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Scientist hopeful for eels future as Ely celebrates
As Ely in Cambridgeshire celebrates its annual Eel Festival this weekend, what is the future of the now critically endangered fish that provided the city with its name?
Eels are not found in Cambridgeshire’s River Great Ouse in anything like the numbers they once were.
Historically, the fish was a staple of the local diet, as well as providing a valuable source of income for the fishing industry.
That was in a large part due to the popularity of jellied eels as a dish, with clients regularly travelling to Ely from around the country to sample it.
From Saturday to Monday, the city will celebrate that heritage at its annual Eel Festival with a series of events, including stalls, re-enactments, singing and dancing.
But stocks in the River Great Ouse have now dwindled and the city’s last commercial eel catcher retired in 2014.