Chris helps save the Eel
Eels well! – Bosmere Primary and Marrfish release eels into the Gipping as part of sustainability project
Ben English of Marrfish and The Bildeston Crown’s chef Chris Lee, joined teacher Rachael Tunbridge and the children of Bosmere Primary School, near Needham Market , to release the eels, which the school children have been looking after over the past few months, into the river Gipping. A similar project has also been undertaken with the St Edmunds School in Bury St Edmunds.
The releasing of the eels is the culmination of a project initiated by Marrfish, a family business which has owned fishing vessels and worked as fishermen since 1870. Marrfish’s Operations Director Ben English explains further: “We are extremely conscious of the need to promote sustainability in relation to fish stocks and there is particular concern about eels. Seven weeks ago we put a tank into each school with approximately 200 baby elvers in each. Since then the children have been working with the teachers to learn about the life cycle of the eel. The children have been feeding the eels on a daily basis ever since their arrival and they are now ready for releasing back into the wild where it is hoped they will grow to mature adults before starting the long journey back to the Sargasso Sea. Marrfish, as responsible members of the fishing industry, believe that it is essential for us to do our bit to educate young people on the need to protect the eel and have selected Bosmere school for a very simple but personal reason – my daughter goes there!”
Supporting the children on the day was Marrfish client – Chris Lee, Head Chef from the nearby The Bildeston Crown. Eel is a regular feature on Chris’s menus – currently it is served smoked with cumin roasted scallop, carrot & cardamom on the Select menu. Chris was happy to talk with the children about the importance of using sustainably sourced fish and cooking with eel – an item which after all is not a regular food item on most family’s weekly shopping.
A variety of factors have contributed to the decline of eel populations including habitat destruction, pollution of waterways, disease, blocking of migratory pathways, and the complexity of the European eel lifecycle. These problems led to the eel being listed as endangered in 2008, after numbers had declined by as much as 90%.
For further information, please contact Ben English on 07585 903245 or ben.english@marrfish.co.uk
