South West Water has installed new screens in Exeter to help protect vulnerable young eels in the River Exe.

The project cost SWW £1 million pounds to ensure young European eels, a critically endangered species, are protected when the company takes water from the river to treat it. 

The new screens have a fine mesh which prevents them from getting trapped or injured in the water abstraction equipment. It also protects other fish species such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout.

The screens, which were designed by consultancy Fishtek, have an automatic cleaning function which is energy efficient. it is expected that the energy savings will help offset some of the cost of the investment.

Phil Turnbull, fisheries and biodiversity advisor at South West Water, said: “European eels have been living in our rivers for thousands of years and form an important part of the local ecology and natural heritage. Unfortunately, eel populations have drastically declined in our waters, as a result of habitat loss, blocked migration and overexploitation. They are now critically endangered and South West Water are contributing to collective efforts to reverse the decline in populations.”

The company is planning to put in place similar interventions at various locations across the South West.