Save the European Eel – Before It’s Too Late!

Sign the petition to demand urgent EU action now!
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is one of Europe’s most mysterious and remarkable fish. For millions of years, it has migrated from the Sargasso Sea across the Atlantic to our rivers, lakes, and coasts — but today, it is critically endangered. Its population has collapsed to just a fraction of its historical size.
Because the eel knows no borders, its survival depends on a united effort across all of Europe. It is time for the European Union and its member states to act decisively and together.
We call on EU leaders to take immediate, coordinated, and science-based action to protect and restore the European eel.
We demand that the EU:
-Restore eel migration routes — by removing obsolete dams, installing effective fish passages, and reducing hydropower-related mortality.
-Stop illegal fishing and the massive trafficking of glass eels — one of the largest wildlife crimes in Europe.
-Phase out commercial and recreational eel fishing — until populations show real recovery.
-End support for ineffective restocking — and instead focus on restoring natural habitats and migration.
-Increase investment in research and monitoring — to ensure decisions are based on solid scientific data.
-Develop a new EU-wide eel recovery strategy — with clear targets, timelines, and enforcement.
-Involve local communities, fishers, and the energy sector — in a collaborative transition towards eel conservation and long-term sustainability.
Why this matters — and why it’s urgent:
🔻 Eel stocks are now at just 3% of historic levels.
🔻 Their long life cycle means recovery will take decades — if we act now.
🔻 Without joint European action, the eel may vanish from our waters forever.
💚 Sign this petition to save the eel — a species that belongs to all of us, and depends on all of us.
Let’s make sure future generations can still witness this incredible animal in Europe’s rivers and seas.