This summer, the Sustainable Eel Group marked its fifteenth anniversary with a special gathering of scientists, policymakers, fishers, traders and conservationists from across Europe. The SEG15 event celebrated one and a half decades of coordinated action to protect the endangered European eel and to prepare for the years ahead. Central to the event were five keynote presentations, each examining SEG’s achievements across a core area of focus: Policy, Outreach, Research, Sustainability and Strategy.

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Policy

Andrew Kerr, Chair of SEG, reflected on how the organisation has reshaped the policy landscape. Once absent from most environmental agendas, the European eel is now a priority species in international and European biodiversity frameworks. SEG’s role in aligning eel protection with major legislation such as the EU Eel Regulation has been pivotal. The group has persistently advocated for more robust implementation of the 2007 regulation, emphasising the importance of escapement targets and the broader ecosystem services eels provide. Through ongoing engagement with government ministries, the European Commission and advisory bodies, SEG has helped turn policy inertia into tangible action.

‘We ensured the eel was not forgotten. Our strategy has been to work across institutions to push for regulation that balances recovery, livelihoods and long-term thinking’, Kerr explained. He emphasised the need to uphold the precautionary principle amid growing geopolitical and commercial pressures. SEG’s policy team continues to provide data-backed recommendations, working closely with enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations to close legal loopholes and ensure eel management plans are both realistic and enforceable. It is this work that has helped anchor eel conservation within broader biodiversity and water management frameworks across the continent.

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Outreach

Emily Ostler, SEG’s lead on outreach and education activities, shared how public engagement has become central to the organisation’s mission. Through oral history projects, school programmes, presentations, and creative collaborations, SEG has worked to reconnect people with the eel not just as a species, but as a cultural presence woven into folklore, cuisine, and living memory. In so doing, the group has demonstrated that conservation can be emotionally resonant and inspiring as well as scientifically informed. Projects such as the Eel Suitcase, led by John Kilburn, and the SEG-Nikkei Oral Histories, have played an instrumental role in translating data into stories that matter to people.

‘The eel lives in our rivers and in our stories’, Ostler said. ‘Outreach is about restoring that bond’. In schools and communities, these initiatives have generated conversation, curiosity and intergenerational exchange. By incorporating the diverse voices of elvermen or printmakers, local historians or chefs, SEG has widened the circle of concern, transforming the eel from an obscure conservation topic into a familiar subject with everyday relevance. Through its communications strategy, SEG is making space for people to imagine their own role in the eel’s recovery in a way that is meaningful and sustainable.

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Research

SEG has helped to deepen and diversify research on eel ecology, threats, and recovery strategies. Willem Dekker, a foundational figure in eel science and SEG’s scientific lead, outlined how research has evolved from population trend monitoring to more sophisticated, multidisciplinary approaches. These include habitat modelling, climate analysis, migration tracking and environmental DNA sampling. In partnership with universities, SEG has supported studies that examine restocking effectiveness, mortality mitigation and the long-term impact of infrastructure such as dams and hydroelectric turbines.

Dekker’s contributions to eel policy at the EU level were also acknowledged. His early advocacy helped shape the Eel Regulation, and his continued work ensures SEG remains evidence-driven. ‘We needed to move past debate and apply what we knew’, he said, urging caution without paralysis. Research programmes supported by SEG now stretch across Europe, connecting university-basedlaboratories with field stations, citizen science groups, and fishers themselves. By weaving together local knowledge and formal data, and increasingly looking beyond disciplinary boundaries, SEG is helping to fill gaps in understanding and build a research foundation fit for practical application and robust policy use.

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Sustainability

SEG’s commitment to practical conservation is perhaps best exemplified by the SEG Standard, a certification scheme for the sustainable trade and handling of eels. Introduced by Technical Director David Bunt, the Standard defines best practice across the supply chain from fisheries to aquaculture, and from transport to restocking. It is based on traceability, welfare protocols, and conservation benefit, all designed to minimise impacts and improve welfare, while also supporting economic viability. ‘Responsible management must be measurable and practical’, Bunt asserted. ‘The SEG Standard shows what is possible when trade and conservation align, delivering transparency and responsibility’,

One notable study led by Janek Simon demonstrated a 2.4 per cent mortality rate in SEG-certified glass eel fisheries, compared to 11 per cent in uncertified equivalents. Certified fishers were found to use better gear, gentler handling methods and stronger post-capture care. These findings reinforce the idea that certification can produce real biological gains while ensuring responsible actors are recognised and supported. The Standard has created a structure in which transparency becomes a tool for conservation rather than a threat to it, and it continues to evolve through field feedback and collaborative research.

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Strategy

Alexander Wever, SEG’s International Coordinator, delivered the final presentation, looking ahead to the group’s next strategic phase. SEG will begin applying its tools, partnerships and lessons to the conservation of all anguillid eel species across the globe. From Japan to New Zealand, the Americas to Micronesia, freshwater eels face shared threats including overharvesting, habitat loss, climate change and trafficking. SEG aims to contribute to a coordinated international response by offering adaptable standards and advocating for harmonised policy frameworks that are adaptable and inclusive.

‘The European eel is not alone. There are more than a dozen anguillid species, and many face similar pressures. Our next fifteen years must be international’, Wever said. He stressed the need to build bridges between continents, sectors and worldviews, while respecting regional differences. For SEG, global efforts are not just about scope but about solidarity. The eel’s migratory nature demands a conservation model that crosses boundaries, and SEG’s next chapter will seek to meet that demand by drawing on everything it has learned from fifteen years of complex, collaborative work in Europe.

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SEG15 Awards

The SEG15 Awards honoured individuals whose contributions reflect SEG’s core values across the Social, Environmental, and Commercial columns. These awards highlight the many ways people engage with eel recovery through storytelling, business leadership, practical restoration and research.

In the Social category, Vanessa BH, leader of the Somerset Eel Recovery Project, was celebrated for her inclusive, community-led approach to eel education. Her initiative has brought people together across generations, creating opportunities for engagement and skill-building while promoting cultural memory. Likewise, John Greenley, known online as the ‘Surprised Eel Historian’, was recognised for his entertaining yet informative posts that bring the eel’s medieval past to life for modern audiences. His creativity and consistency have made a niche subject accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

In the Commercial category, Thomas Bierberg-Christensen and Thomas Ditlevsen, two Danish coastal fishers, were recognised for their dedication to policy dialogue and responsible practice. Their personal integrity and willingness to engage in difficult conversations have helped rebuild trust within the silver eel fishing sector. Meanwhile, Jerome Guruchaga, a French eel trader, was commended for his long-standing advocacy for better organisation within the sector. His leadership in establishing SEG France demonstrated that conservation and commerce can coexist, even in politically charged contexts.

The Conservation category honoured Magnus van der Meer, coordinator of Paling-over-de-Dijk, whose steady leadership and practical problem-solving have transformed a contested infrastructure challenge into a functioning conservation effort. His capacity to connect parties and maintain momentum under pressure has been critical. Janek Simon, a researcher based in Potsdam, was recognised for his meticulous, data-led work on restocking. His efforts to quantify outcomes and maintain neutrality in polarised debates have proven key to building trust around one of conservation’s most complex tools.

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What Next?

As SEG steps into its next phase, its mission remains anchored in principles of transparency, collaboration and adaptability. It has shown that a species-focused approach, when informed by science, supported by policy and enriched by public engagement, can yield results. From lowering eel mortality to strengthening enforcement and supporting restocking, SEG’s impact is measurable and growing in both reach and reliability. Yet, as Andrew Kerr noted in his closing words, ‘This is not a finished story. But it is a hopeful one’. With its roots in Europe and its outlook expanding globally, the Sustainable Eel Group enters the next fifteen years prepared to build on what it has begun, bringing science, trade and tradition together for the recovery of one of nature’s most remarkable and mysterious creatures.

For more information about SEG’s work across these areas, please register for our coffee table book. This independently published work brings all SEG’s outputs together in one place, and is ideal as a reference text, an outreach and engagement tool, or a gift. International shipping is available.