Thames Leisure Boat Hire Blog

Reports by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have indicated that the eel population of the River Thames has fallen by 97% in the last five years.

It is feared that the drop in numbers could have a dramatic affect on other forms of wildlife, such as birds and fish in the river’s fragile eco system.

Eels embark on an incredible journey, swimming thousands of miles from the North Atlantic’s Sargasso Sea, all the way to Europe. Climate change, man made structures like dams, as well as changes in ocean currents have all been attributed with aiding the decline of eel numbers in the Thames.

As well as playing an important part in the River Thames’ eco system, eels have had a major role in East End culture for centuries. In the eighteenth century eels were so common in the Thames that nets were set up to catch them as far up the river as central London itself. Back then eels provided a cheap source of food for much of the working class of East London.

This dish is the real deal* (*cockney rhyming slang for eels)

Eel Pie and Mash Houses have always been extremely popular in the East End and at the end of the World War II there were around one hundred in East London. Due to changes in taste and increasing prices there are far fewer eel dining establishments than there once was; although they are still a big part of the area’s culture.

Dagenham-based boxer Kevin Mitchell said he will give up eels to help the numbers increase and raise awareness for their plight, he has also encouraged his fellow cockneys to do the same. “The East End wouldn’t be the same without them, and if my next fight can help save them then that’s great,” He said.

All of Thames Leisure’s boat hire on the River Thames can take you to the East End where you can enjoy jellied eels and mash for lunch anytime!