Catching eels in the fens
The history of catching eels in the fens is a fascinating tale that has been passed down through generations. Eels have been a staple food source for people living in the fens for centuries, and the techniques used to catch them have evolved over time. The tradition of eel fishing in the region dates back to the Roman era.
The fens
The fens, a region in eastern England, is known for its vast network of waterways and marshlands that provide an ideal habitat for eels.
The life cycle of eels
The Latin name for the European eel, which is the species found in the fens is Anguilla anguilla.
Eels can crawl through wet grass to reach water. They can survive out of water for quite a long time.
These eels can live for up to one hundred years old but the average lifespan is 15 to 70 years old. They are born in the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso Sea is in within the north Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda. This Sea is known for its free floating seaweed called Sargassum which has been called a golden floating rainforest for marine life. It is important as the spawning site for eels and other marine life.
The approximately one metre long adult eels leave their European and fenland homes in late autumn, swimming individually from 3,500 to 6,000 miles (5,500 to 10,000 km) to the Sargasso Sea via the Azores. The journey often takes more than a year and only a few make it to their destination after facing many dangers on their epic journey. The adult eels spawn there from December to May. It is not clear how long they spend there before spawning. After they have bred, they die.
Their tiny larvae (eggs) drift on the North Atlantic Drift back to their UK or European homes over the next two or three years. They arrive as tiny glass eels and are virtually transparent. They adapt to fresh water, darkening and are then known as elvers. They migrate upstream or may move over land to reach fresh water and estuaries. When living in the fresh waters, they are known as yellow eels. They stay for about 20 years. They eat invertebrates and fish.
When they mature into silver eels, they are ready to migrate back to the Sargasso Sea to breed and die.
Catching eels the traditional way
Eels are found in the rivers and estuaries of the fens. They are caught using traditional methods such as traps and nets.
One of the most interesting aspects of this is the use of eel traps. These traps were made from willow branches and were placed in shallow waterways where eels were known to swim. The traps would be checked regularly, and any caught eels would be taken home for dinner or used to pay the rent.
Catching eels the modern way
These days, some people are abusing electric fishing methods to catch eels. This is harmful to other aquatic life.
Eating eels in the fens
Eating eels in the fens is a long-standing tradition that dates back to the medieval times.
For centuries, locals have been catching and eating these slimy creatures as a delicacy. Eels are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making them a healthy food choice.
They can be cooked in various ways such as smoked, grilled or stewed. In the fens, they were often served with mashed potatoes or bread.
Fen people used to eat eels on a regular basis up to about 50 years ago. Some people can remember a time when men would go to the pub and exchange a few eels for a meal and beer for the evening.
People used to eat more eels than fish from the sea and freshwater fish together. They were popular until the early 20th century.
Availability of eels in the past
In 1392,the King cut the tariffs on eels being imported to encourage imports from other parts of the world as the prices for eels had risen so much.
In the 1650s, the demand for eels was so great that they had to be imported from the Netherlands. However, the import of eels was temporarily banned due to the Dutch-Anglo trade wars.
Availability of eels in the current time
These days you may be able to find eel pie, jellied eels or stuffed eels in specialist shops in London. Eels may be available to buy at Billingsgate Fish Market in London which is open to the public.
Jellied eels were often cooked in gelatine. Eels were able to survive in heavily polluted rivers such as the Thames but these days most of the eels come from the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.
Over time eels have become an endangered species.
Paying the rent using eels in the past
During the Medieval times, eels were important as they were both a relatively cheap and common food and a currency. They could be used to pay the rent!
11th century to 16th century
Eels were so precious they were often used instead of money to pay the rent. About 540,000 eels were used per year at the peak of their use as currency.
A bundle of 25 eels was known as a a ‘stick’ and a bundle of 10 ‘sticks’ was known as a ‘bind’.
The Domesday Book has lists of many people who paid eel-rents.
Paying the rent using eels in modern times
As far as we know, this is no longer possible or practical.
Conservation of the endangered species of the European eel
Due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution of waterways, eel populations have declined by 95% since the 1980s.
This decline has led to restrictions on their harvesting and consumption as the European eel is now a critically endangered species.
Efforts are being made to conserve eel populations, such as improving the design of eel passes and networks of suitable habitats so eels can travel upstream to their new homes.
If you want to check the sustainability of the fish you are eating, please look at:
The Marine Conservation Society Good Fish Guide (may open in a new tab or window)
Conclusion
We should appreciate and preserve the history involved with catching eels in the fens. We hope that conservation efforts help to improve the numbers of eels in the fens so they are no longer an endangered species.
The Fens App 