Wild Eel Migration Welfare and Hydropower Barriers

European and American eels undergo extraordinary long-distance migrations that hydropower dams block, causing massive mortality and welfare harm.

Key Facts

European eels migrate up to 6,000 kilometers from European rivers to spawn in the Sargasso Sea
Dams block upstream migration of young eels and cause mortality in downstream migrating adults
Turbine strike is a major cause of eel mortality during downstream migration with some estimates exceeding 50 percent
Eel ladders have limited effectiveness compared to their equivalents for salmon
European eel populations have declined by over 95 percent partly due to migration barriers

Welfare Considerations

Eel migration welfare involves both the frustration of blocked upstream movement in young eels and the acute trauma of turbine strike during downstream migration. Adult eels that have spent years maturing in freshwater attempt to migrate to spawning grounds only to be drawn into turbines, causing physical injury that may not immediately kill but leads to delayed death. The scale of mortality — potentially millions of eels at individual dams — combined with the species critically endangered status makes this both a welfare and conservation emergency.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal and passage improvement programs in European and American eel habitat
Advocate for turbine screening requirements to reduce eel mortality during downstream migration
Donate to eel conservation programs that address migration barriers and habitat restoration
Raise awareness about the eel migration welfare crisis as part of broader river restoration advocacy