Freshwater elvers travel upstream and are forced to climb up obstructions, such as weirs, dam walls, and natural waterfalls.
In freshwater, they develop pigmentation, turn into "elvers" (young eels) and feed on creatures such as small crustaceans, worms and insects.
Traditionally, fishermen consumed elvers as a cheap dish, but environmental changes have reduced eel populations.
Fishermen consumed elvers as a cheap dish, but environmental changes have reduced eel populations.
The operation now transfers elvers just past the dam due to these concerns.
Eel larvae then metamorphose into glass eels and then become elvers before finally seeking out their juvenile and adult habitats.
That does not seem a very commercial proposition, especially when we consider that we have in this country one of the finest natural supplies of elvers in the world.
Stocks of elvers wax and wane even if there is a downward overall decline.
