Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve eel habitats.

Steps being taken to improve eel habitats and measures are set out in the UK’s Eel Management Plans. The Plans are available via:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-freshwater-fisheries/2010-to-2015-government-policy-freshwater-fisheries#appendix-1-increasing-eel-stocks

In England and Wales 328 new eel passes were installed over the 2011-13 period, restoring access to over 4200ha of river habitat. In Northern Ireland the key step to improve eel habitat has been the installation of an eel pass in the River Lagan in 2014-5. In Scotland 8 obstructions to eel migration have been addressed with more being considered. Work is continuing to implement further such measures across the UK where necessary.

Improvement and restoration of wider aquatic environment, which should benefit eel, is also being undertaken through implementation of River Basin Management Plans across the UK.