French eel conservation work viewed by Gloucestershire team

Conservationists from Gloucestershire are travelling to France to look at ways of stopping the decline of eels.

The group will see work being carried out in Normandy where two dams on the Selune River are being removed.

The visit is part of a wider campaign to draw attention to river barriers which stop the migratory European eel from reaching its home waters.

It is estimated there are 1,500 river barriers, tidal gates, flap valves and weirs in France.

Dr Gordon McGlone, from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said he feared the county would lose its elvers and silver eels forever unless UK and European countries take rapid action.

"This once common fish is now in such decline that commercial fisheries are in crisis," he said.