The number of eels in Dutch estuaries is steadily declining. Because many are pointing the finger of blame at fishermen, as a sign of goodwill they have released 85,000 young eels into Dutch waters.

The Dutch eel is in a poor state. Fishermen say they are not the ones to blame. In an attempt to improve their image, Frisian fishermen have released 85,000 young eels in an attempt to help revive the species in the Netherlands.

The European eels are born as larvae in the Saragosso Sea, an area in the Atlantic Ocean to the north of Cuba. They swim to the European estuaries where they arrive as glass eels. They grow to adulthood and live most of their lives in freshwaters in Europe. They swim back to the Saragossa sea to spawn.

Following the currents most eels swim to the coast of France. They are captured on a massive scale for breeding. Some are bred in Europe, but a growing share are bought by Asian countries which pay a high price.

The eels which manage to escape the French nets attempt to swim towards European rivers. In the Netherlands they meet many obstacles, such as dams, dykes and mills.

Frisian fishermen say these obstacles are the main reason so few eels remain. However environmentalists say the fishermen catch the few eels which manage to avoid the French nets.

The Agriculture Ministry favours an annual fishing ban of two months. However, parliament would rather let Dutch fishermen let out baby eels off the shore. Which is precisely what the Frisian fishermen did by releasing 85,000 young eels.